The landscape of cancer in the United States is shifting, with younger women bearing an increasing burden of the disease, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society. While overall cancer survival rates have improved, the report highlights concerning trends in cancer incidence among women under 50 and persistent racial disparities in cancer outcomes.
The report reveals that six of the ten most common cancers are on the rise, including breast and uterine cancers. Notably, cancer rates are increasing among women under 50 and those aged 50 to 64, while remaining flat or decreasing in men of the same age groups. This trend represents a significant change for a disease traditionally associated with aging and more commonly affecting men.
Rebecca L. Siegel, an epidemiologist with the American Cancer Society and the report’s lead author, noted, “These unfavorable trends are tipped toward women. Of all the cancers that are increasing, some are increasing in men, but it’s lopsided — more of this increase is happening in women.”
The report also underscores persistent racial disparities in cancer outcomes. Despite overall improvements in survival rates, Black and Native Americans are dying from some cancers at rates two to three times higher than white Americans. For instance, the five-year survival rate for uterine corpus cancer is 63% for Black women compared to 84% for white women.
While the reasons behind these trends are not fully understood, experts suggest that changes in lifestyle factors, environmental exposures, and screening practices may play a role. The report emphasizes the importance of cancer prevention strategies, including maintaining a healthy body weight, limiting alcohol consumption, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, staying physically active, and adhering to regular cancer screenings.
As cancer continues to be the second leading cause of death in the United States and the primary cause among Americans under 85, these findings underscore the need for targeted research and interventions to address the changing face of cancer in the country.
See: “Cancer’s New Face: Younger and Female” (January 16, 2025)
