Research results reveal: Certain types of cancer are more common in Gen X and Millennials

In recent years, the number of people diagnosed with certain types of cancer, such as breast and stomach cancer, has increased among younger generations. Researchers from the American Cancer Society have discovered that for several of the 34 cancer types studied, rates have been rising with each new generation.

It has been revealed that those born in 1990 are two to three times more likely to develop pancreatic, kidney, and small intestine cancer compared to those born in 1955. According to the research, young women today face a two to three times higher risk of liver cancer than previous generations.

Following a decline observed in previous generations, the number of new cases for nine types of cancer—including breast, uterine, colorectal, non-cardia stomach, gallbladder, ovarian, and testicular cancers, as well as anal cancer in men and Kaposi sarcoma—has increased among younger generations.

Among those born in 1990, cases of ovarian cancer rose by 12 percent, while cases of uterine cancer were 169 percent higher compared to the birth cohort with the lowest rates. Mortality rates for uterine, gallbladder, testicular, colorectal, and liver cancers also showed an increase in younger generations compared to the previous generation.

Justin Balko, a professor of medicine, hematology, and oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, stated, "Based on the small-scale studies we have conducted, the overall increase in cancer incidence rates is not surprising, but the continuous rise in young people is perhaps more surprising."

Continuing his speech, Balko stated, "This shows that there are very real risks of exposure that we do not fully understand, and that it is not just caused by aging populations. Determining what these factors might be is difficult, and developing hypotheses for each tumor type requires a very complex discussion."

"However, understanding environmental and lifestyle risks such as obesity, and determining whether we can reverse them or if we need to prevent them, could have a major impact on slowing this progression. Yet, these are complex issues that require significant engagement to study, understand, and provide a solution for," he/she said.