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Increases in Incidence Rates of Some Cancers Seen in Early-Onset Age Groups

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on May 16, 2025.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, May 15, 2025 -- The incidence rates of 14 cancers have increased in early-onset age groups, with increases in older-onset age groups also occurring in most of these cancers, according to a study published online April 30 in Cancer Discovery.

Meredith S. Shiels, Ph.D., from the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland, and colleagues examined whether cancer rates have increased at younger ages in the United States by estimating age-standardized cancer incidence (2010 to 2019) and mortality rates (2010 to 2022).

The researchers found that incidence rates increased in at least one early-onset age group (i.e., 15- to 29-, 30- to 39-, and 40- to 49-year-olds) for 14 cancers; nine of these also demonstrated increases in at least one older-onset age group (i.e., 50- to 59-, 60- to 69-, and 70- to 79-year-olds). Compared with expected diagnoses based on 2010 rates, the largest absolute increases in 2019 were female breast, colorectal, kidney, and uterine cancers (4,834; 2,099; 1,793; and 1,209 additional cancers, respectively). For most cancers, there were no concomitant increases in mortality rates, but mortality rates for colorectal, uterine, and testicular cancer increased in early-onset age groups. Drivers of increasing incidence rates were cancer-specific and included a combination of established and novel etiological factors as well as increased detection.

"Descriptive data like these provide a critical starting point for understanding the drivers of rising rates of cancer in early-onset age groups and could translate to effective cancer prevention and early detection efforts," Shiels said in a statement. "As one example, recent guidelines have lowered the age of initiation for breast and colorectal cancer screening based, at least partially, on observations that rates for these cancers are increasing at younger ages."

One author disclosed ties to AbbVie.

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Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted May 2025

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