LISTEN: Uptick in cancers in younger patients

SALT LAKE CITY — A large study spanning 20 years and thousands of Americans conducted by the American Cancer Society suggests that younger generations of Americans continue to see more incidents of many types of cancer.

The researchers said these rates are increasing in 17 of the 34 types of cancer they studied. These include “breast, pancreatic, and gastric cancers.”

According to Dr. Hyuna Sung, the study’s lead author, the research confirms an “increased cancer risk in post-Baby Boomer generations.”

ABC News Correspondent Alex Stone joined KSL NewsRadio host Maria Shilaos to discuss the study, and what young people should take from the findings.

We have provided a transcript of the interview below. It has been edited for brevity.

ABC NEWS CORRESPONDENT ALEX STONE: “This is looking at two groups Gen X, those who were born between 1965 and 1980. And Millennials, those between 1981 and 1996.

This new research [published] in the Lancet Public Health Journal looked at 34 of the most common cancers and found that cancer is rising progressively in the younger generations. Beyond what previous generations were seeing. Seventeen types of cancer are on the rise, including breast cancer.

In some instances, younger Americans are seeing 2 to 3 times higher cancer rates

STONE: Just looking at some of the numbers — those born in 1990 [are seeing] two to three times higher rates than those born in 1955, for pancreatic, kidney and intestinal cancers.

Those born in 1990 are at 169% higher rate for uterine cancer than the lowest generational rate.

So the American Cancer Association (Society) is saying they must figure this out. What are the factors in the younger generations? Is it environmental, food, political or societal? They want to look at all of them to figure out the connections. The reason why those cancer rates have gone up. 

KSL NEWSRADIO ANCHOR, MARIA SHILAOS: Alex, younger generations are wondering, so what do we do with this information? 

STONE:  Well, at this point, doctors are saying, ‘Look, you’ve got to have a healthy diet, don’t smoke, don’t ignore any symptoms.’ And if you have had that symptom, don’t do what we all do and make an excuse for it and say, ‘Well, you know, that’s just a pain because I took a long run yesterday.’

Go in [to the doctor] and get it checked out.

When you go to your doctor, don’t wait for them to tell you what cancer screenings you need. Tell them you want cancer screenings. Ask your doctor, ‘what can I get, what should I get at my age with my condition?’

The connecting factors seem to be obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. But generally scientists must conduct more research to know what’s causing it.

Simone Seikaly contributed.

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