New cancer deaths are down, but cases are up, especially in young adults and women, according to the latest report from the American Cancer Society.
Early Detection, Better Treatments Save Lives
Advances in screening and treatment have spared as many as 4.5 million lives in the last 30 years that cancers like breast, colorectal, lung and prostate would have claimed. Most patients now benefit from earlier detection and improved, often personalized, therapies that allow for more effective interventions than were possible even a few years ago.
But the news is not exclusively good.
People are also living longer, which is correlated with eventual cancer risk. And some combination of environmental factors, genetics and lifestyle choices have seen cancer risk creeping upward in populations previously thought to be at a low risk. For example, cancer is significantly more common in women under 50 than men of the same age.
Survival Gaps Persist Across Racial Groups
Mortality rates for cancer vary significantly by race, and gains in treatment are also not evenly distributed across communities and ethnicities. Black Americans and Native Americans are still more likely to die from the same cancers more White Americans are now surviving.
These disparate trends mirror access to quality care.
People who live in underserved communities may have fewer opportunities for early diagnosis, including proactive cancer screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies, or access to genetic tests or biomarker testing. Advanced treatment options are also not universally available across geographies. Addressing these gaps requires targeted efforts and investments in access to providers across the health care spectrum.
Lifestyle Makes A Difference
Researchers suspect lifestyle changes and exposures are responsible for the rising lethality of certain cancers, including oral, pancreatic, uterine and liver cancers. The risk of many cancers, however, can be reduced through healthy lifestyle choices. Key strategies include limiting alcohol and not using tobacco products, maintaining a healthy weight and receiving vaccines for virus-related cancers.
Public health initiatives that promote cancer awareness and healthier lifestyles can make a difference, too. Armed with the latest report, advocates remain steadfast in their commitment to expand screening efforts and access to cutting-edge care.
