Greenville Reporter

Despite a general decline in cancer death rates, a recent study by the American Cancer Society reveals an increase in cancer incidence among women. The findings indicate that women, particularly those younger than 50 and between 50 to 64 years old, are now at higher risk of developing cancer compared to men.

For women under 50, the likelihood of developing cancer is now 82 percent higher than for their male counterparts, up from 51 percent in 2002. The study attributes this rise to lifestyle changes among women born after the 1950s, including increased smoking rates, obesity, and sedentary lifestyles.

“This increase in cancer diagnoses among women younger than 50 years old is largely breast and thyroid cancers,” said Dr. Mahvish Muzaffar, a hematologist/oncologist at ECU Health. She emphasized the importance of routine mammograms and awareness of risk factors for these demographics. Advances in diagnostic technologies have contributed to more frequent detection of thyroid cancer cases.

While lung cancer rates are declining overall, the decrease has been more significant for men than for women. In 2021, more women under age 65 were diagnosed with lung cancer compared to men. “Men adopted smoking earlier but also quit sooner and more aggressively," Dr. Muzaffar noted.

Advancements in screenings and awareness campaigns have helped reduce certain types of cancers. Prostate cancer cases among men have declined due to more careful use of PSA screenings. HPV vaccination and cervical screening have lowered HPV-related cancers' rates; however, cervical cancer incidence has risen among some groups due to under-screening.

Dr. Muzaffar highlighted the importance of lifestyle factors and screening: “The three most common cancers—breast, lung, and colorectal—all have effective screening methods.”

Further studies are needed to explore factors like vaping, dietary habits, and environmental exposures on these trends. Dr. Muzaffar mentioned ECU Health's observations: “We haven’t conducted a formal study...but anecdotally, we are seeing more young patients with cancer.”

The rise in women's cancer rates underscores public health efforts focused on prevention and early detection. Women over 30 should remain vigilant about their health and utilize available screening options for early detection when treatment is most effective.

For further information about screenings and treatments visit ECUHealth.org/Cancer.