Brief Introduction
A new report shows that cancer cases are increasing in females and in younger adults in the United States. For the first time, cancer rates in females ages 50 to 64 have surpassed those in males, according to the report. The reason for these shifts is not clear, but doctors pointed to a lack of physical activity, high alcohol consumption, and diets high in ultra-processed foods as possible factors.
Cancer death rates in the United States decreased by 34% from 1991 to 2022, according to a report published January 16 by the American Cancer Society (ACS). The Cancer Statistics, 2025 report shows this was mainly due to declines in the four most common types of cancer lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate. However, the rate of new cases of cancer known as incidence increased for many types of cancer during this period, including among females and younger adults.
For example, cancer incidence in females ages 50 to 64 years surpassed that of males for the first time, the report found. The cancer rate among females younger than 50 years is now 82% higher than in males, an increase from 51% in 2002.
In addition, among people younger than 65 years, lung cancer incidence is higher among females than males. This is due to differences in women starting smoking and quitting, the report noted. The report also highlighted that incidence and deaths due to pancreatic cancer continue to increase for both males and females. The 5-year survival rate for people diagnosed with pancreatic exocrine tumors is just 8%. This type accounts for 9 out of 10 cases of pancreatic cancer.
“Pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose early there’s no screening test for it, like with colon cancer,” said Nilesh Vora, MD, hematologist and medical oncologist and medical director of the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA. Vora was not involved in the report. The treatments for pancreatic cancer haven’t mirrored the advances in treatment we’ve seen in some other cancers, like lung cancer, melanoma, and colon cancer.
Lifestyle factors associated with cancer
It’s not clear why females and young people have an increasing burden of cancer in recent years, but experts have identified several possible causes. We’ve talked a lot about the lack of exercise and increasing obesity. We’ve talked a lot about diet changes,” said Vora. “I don’t think there’s a definitive conclusion that we can draw, but I think those things need to be explored.
It pointed out that “as people are more engaged with their screens, or have positions and roles where they tend to be more sedentary sitting at a desk and more screen-oriented, even not walking from one office to the other that increases their risk of cancer.”
“There is also emerging evidence about the role of dietary changes,” she said. “The consumption of more ultra-processed foods Trusted Source may increase cancer risk. The decreased consumption of vegetables can also increase cancer risk.”
Obesity is also a major risk factor for cancer, including breast cancer and endometrial cancer. According to the American Cancer Society Trusted Source, 10% of cancer cases in females in the U.S. are linked to excess body weight, compared to 5% in males.
“It has concerns about the rising obesity rates, especially in women,” said Harnden. “As obesity increases, [women’s] risk of breast cancer increases in lockstep with each extra five pounds that they have on their body.”
Higher alcohol consumption also increases the risk of several cancers. Oral cavity cancer, breast cancer, and liver cancer all of which saw growing incidence in the report are linked Trusted Source to the consumption of alcohol.
Cancer Disparities Still a Concern
The report also highlighted alarming inequalities in cancer death rates. Rates in Native American people are two to three times higher than in white people for kidney, liver, stomach, and cervical cancers.
In addition, Black people are twice as likely as white people to die of prostate, stomach, and uterine corpus cancers. Black people are also 50% more likely to die from cervical cancer, which is preventable with the HPV vaccine.
“The inequalities in cancer care is always something that’s very humbling to see,” said Harnden. “We need to continue to strive to do better in screening for cancer, making sure that the great screening tools we have are accessible to people of all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Ways to Reduce Your Cancer
There are several things people can do to reduce their risk of cancer. First and foremost, decrease your alcohol consumption, whatever your starting point is.
There’s also very good data on the importance of exercise. But beyond exercise, it is important to be more active overall take walks during the day, have meetings while you are walking, or incorporate more activity into your daily life, she continued. people should decrease their consumption of ultra-processed foods and switch to a more plant-based diet.
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For some people, it’s harder to subtract things from the diet, she said. Instead, try adding vegetables, particularly cruciferous vegetables broccoli, cauliflower, and things like that into your diet.
For people who still struggle with obesity, I recommend that they have a discussion with a weight loss specialist about considering some of the new tools in obesity management and weight loss, such as GLP-1s.