Fri Jan 17 11:31:29 UTC 2025: ## Women Now Outpace Men in US Cancer Rates: A First in Over a Century
**New York, NY** – A groundbreaking study by the American Cancer Society (ACS), published in *CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians*, reveals a significant shift in cancer incidence in the United States. For the first time since the early 1900s, women aged 50 to 64 are experiencing higher cancer rates than men in the same age group.
The study highlights a dramatic rise in cancer among younger women. Cancer rates in women under 50 are now 82% higher than in their male counterparts, a sharp increase from 51% in 2002. This surge is particularly pronounced in breast cancer, which has seen a 1.4% annual increase among women under 50 since the mid-2000s, compared to a 0.7% rise in older women.
Dr. Arif Kamal, chief patient officer at the ACS, stated, “We’ve got more cancers overall, particularly those in younger people, and particularly those in women.” He attributed the shift to a combination of declining cancer rates in men and a concurrent rise in women. While men have seen a significant drop in lung cancer rates since 1975, prostate cancer rates remain elevated.
The report doesn’t pinpoint the exact cause of the increase in women’s cancer rates, but suggests obesity, genetic factors, and environmental influences as potential contributing elements. Dr. Kamal noted the links between cancer and lifestyle choices, citing thirteen cancers associated with being overweight and seven linked to alcohol consumption.
A separate study from University College London (UCL) adds another layer to the concerning trend. The research indicates that women lose 22 minutes of life expectancy for every cigarette smoked, compared to 17 minutes for men. This underscores the significant health risks associated with smoking, regardless of gender. The ACS study, along with the UCL findings, highlights the urgent need for further research to understand and address the rising cancer rates among women in the US.
First Piper 