What Gen-Xers and Millennials Should Know About Cancer Risk

Gen-Xers and Millennials may be at a higher risk for 17 different types of cancer compared to earlier generations, according to a new study published in Lancet Public Health. The study was led by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Younger generations face different cancer risks

Gen-Xers refers to members of Generation X, people born between 1965 and 1980. People born between 1981 and 1996 are called Millennials. Researchers found that 17 out of 34 cancer types are on the rise in these two groups when compared to older generations. Cancers of the kidney, pancreas, and small intestine are a few of the cancers becoming more common in younger people.

The study also found that 9 of the 17 cancers that are increasing in young people had been declining in recent years in older generations. These cancers are:

• Breast cancer that is estrogen receptor-positive
• Uterine cancer, also called endometrial cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Gallbladder cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Anal cancer (in men)
• Kaposi sarcoma (in men)

“Gen-Xers and Millennials need to be aware of these trends to modify their risk as much as possible and to be vigilant with cancer screening. This study emphasizes the critical need to study what drives cancer development, particularly in younger people,” said Lan Coffman, MD, PhD, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) expert and assistant professor of hematology-oncology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Cancer is becoming more common in younger people

Every year in the United States, about 80,000 young adults ages 20 to 39 are diagnosed with cancer. They account for about 4% of all cancer diagnoses. The survival rates for young adults can vary by cancer type, but these rates have not changed much over the past few decades.

However, recent research has shown that cancer is becoming more common in young and middle-aged adults. For example:

• Cervical cancer cases increased by 1% to 2% each year from 2015 to 2019 in people ages 30 to 44.
• Colorectal cancer cases increased by 1% to 2% yearly from 2015 to 2019 in people younger than 55. In the late 1990s, colorectal cancer was the fourth leading cause of cancer death in people younger than 50. But today, it is the most common cause of cancer death for men in this age group and the second most common for women.

Knowing and reducing your cancer risk

Understanding your cancer risk can help you be proactive about your health. Talk with your doctor about your personal cancer risk, especially if cancer runs in your family. Knowing your personal and family health history can help you and your doctor make decisions about your care. Together, you can figure out which cancers you may have a higher risk for and what cancer screening tests and schedule are right for you.

To reduce overall cancer risk, young adults should take steps now, including:

• Not smoking or using any tobacco products
• Avoiding or limiting alcohol
• Following a healthy eating pattern and being physically active
• Getting to and staying at a healthy weight
• Protecting skin from the sun and tanning devices
• Getting the HPV vaccine to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV)

Dr. Coffman is an Associate Editor on ASCO’s Patient Information Editorial Board.