JAMA Netw Open

Gen X faces rising cancer incidence: A closer look at U.S. trends

July 19, 2024

Decreases in lung and cervical cancers in Generation X may be offset by gains at other sites. Generation X may be experiencing larger per-capita increases in the incidence of leading cancers than any prior generation born in 1908 through 1964. Cancer incidence could remain high for decades if the trajectory remains the same.

• In this cohort study, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data were used to estimate incident invasive cancers among 3.8 million adults. Fitted cohort patterns (FCPs) and FCP incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were compared by cancer site for Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) and Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964).
• In Generation X vs. Baby Boomers, FCP IRRs among women increased significantly for the following: thyroid (2.76), kidney (1.99), rectal (1.84), corpus uterine (1.75), colon (1.56), and pancreatic (1.39) cancers; non-Hodgkins lymphoma (1.40); and leukemia (1.27). Lung (0.60) and cervical (0.71) cancer incidence decreased among women.
• Among men, IRRs increased for thyroid (2.16), kidney (2.14), rectal (1.80), colon (1.60), and prostate (1.25) cancers and leukemia (1.34). Lung (0.51), liver (0.76), and gallbladder (0.85) cancer and non-Hodgkins lymphoma (0.75) incidence decreased among men.
• For all cancers combined, FCPs were higher in Generation X than for Baby Boomers because gaining cancers numerically overtook falling cancers in all groups except Asian or Pacific Islander men.

Source:

Rosenberg PS, et al. (2024, June 3). JAMA Netw Open. Cancer Incidence Trends in Successive Social Generations in the US. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38857048/