Rise in Early-Onset Cancer Not Linked to Rise in Clinically Meaningful Cancer Occurrence
A study found that the increase in early-onset cancer incidence does not consistently indicate an increase in the occurrence of clinically meaningful cancer.
Researchers, including Dr. Patel from Harvard Medical School, examined the trend of early-onset cancer and found that while incidence rates have doubled since 1992 for 8 types of cancer, mortality rates have remained stable.
The 8 cancers with the fastest-rising incidence include thyroid, anus, kidney, small intestine, colorectum, endometrium, pancreas, and myeloma.
- Colorectal and endometrial cancer saw a slight increase in mortality.
- Other cancers had stable or declining mortality rates despite increasing diagnoses, suggesting that the trend is due to increased detection.
The increase in early-onset cancer incidence does not consistently indicate an increase in the occurrence of clinically meaningful cancer.
Author's summary: Early-onset cancer incidence rise not linked to clinically meaningful cancer occurrence.