Douglas Flora: Rising Cancer Risks for Gen X and Millennials
Douglas Flora shared on LinkedIn:
“Rising Cancer Risks for Gen X and Millennials: Liz Bonis
A study just published in The Lancet Public Health by the American Cancer Society, led by Dr. Hyuna Sung and Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, reveals that Gen X and Millennials in the U.S. face a higher risk of developing 17 types of cancer compared to older generations. This study analyzed data from over 23 million patients and highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions.
Dr. Sung notes, “Birth cohorts share unique environments that affect their exposure to cancer risk factors during their crucial developmental years.” Well-established risk factors like obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and unhealthy diets play a role, but improved diagnostics alone cannot explain the rapid rise in cancer cases among younger adults.
Dr. Jemal emphasizes, “Without effective population-level interventions, we risk an overall increase in cancer burden, halting or reversing decades of progress.” Interventions should include quality education, safe spaces for physical activity, a nutritious school food system, and education on the harms of alcohol consumption and smoking.
For a detailed list of the 17 cancers with rising incidence rates, check the comments section.
Key cancers with rising incidence rates include:
• Breast cancer (estrogen-receptor positive)
• Pancreatic cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Small intestinal cancer
• Liver cancer (female only)
• Uterine corpus cancer
• Gallbladder cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Testicular cancer
• Anal cancer (male only)
• Kaposi sarcoma (male only)
This study underscores the importance of ensuring access to affordable, comprehensive health insurance. Lisa A. Lacasse president of ACS CAN, states, ‘ACS CAN will continue our longstanding work to urge lawmakers to expand Medicaid and advocate for permanent ACA tax subsidies.”
Read Further.
Source: Douglas Flora/LinkedIn
Douglas Flora is the Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, overseeing clinical operations, strategic planning, and the expansion of cancer programs. He is also the co-founder of the Center for Precision Medicine; Genomic Health.
As the Editor-in-Chief of ‘AI in Precision Oncology,’ the first peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated to this field, he plays a pivotal role in advancing research. He is also an active board member of the American Cancer Society and ACCC, where he contributes to advocacy, education, and innovation within the cancer community.