Cancer Gaining on Younger Adults
Rates
of leading cancers are projected to rise among the U.S. demographic
group known as Generation X—people born between 1965 and 1980, a new
study concludes. The startling result is so pronounced that Gen X is
expected to have a higher cancer rate than their parents and
grandparents, reports Scientific American editor Lauren J. Young. The finding held for numerous cancers, including colon, rectal, thyroid, ovarian, prostate and kidney.
How they did it: Researchers examined data collected between 1992 and 2018 on 3.8 million people in the U.S. with invasive cancer—cancer that has spread beyond its original site. The team was particularly interested in patterns among birth cohorts such as Gen X, Baby Boomers, the Silent Generation and the Greatest Generation.
What the experts say:
“It’s very clear to us that cancer is evolving from a disease which has
traditionally been considered a disease of aging to one which affects,
really, all age groups,” says gastroenterologist Andrew Chan.
MORE:
Gen X and Cancer:
In total, we analyzed 3.8 million cases of incident cancer occurring over 521 million person-years (eTable 2 in Supplement 1).
Overall, 51.0% of individuals were male (compared with 49.0% female)
and 71.5% were non-Hispanic White (compared with 8.6% Asian or Pacific
Islander, 9.5% Hispanic, and 10.4% non-Hispanic Black).
MORE:
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2819747
Lots of light-skinned blondes who spent hours on the beaches getting their suntans are now coming down with skin cancers.
ReplyDeleteAnd my wife, who is an oncologist, has seen patients whose cancers are directly attributable to the hormone therapies they had undergone (notably including the so-called "trans-genders").
Also playing into the mix: Environmental disasters (think Love Canal, Chernobyl, etc.), electromagnetic waves from modern technological devices (radar, televisions that used CRTs, radio and communications signals, et cetera), and new and novel pharmaceuticals.
Well yes this makes perfect sense. We grew up in an era of maximum industrialization and pollution with minimal regulation. We breathed dirty air, ate contaminated foods and drank polluted water. What did we think would happen?
ReplyDeleteThis is what I say to people when they say "How could God let so and so get cancer?" The response is "We've been poisoning ourselves for centuries. What did you think would happen?"