Sept. 18, 2024 – Cancer is becoming a more survivable illness in the U.S., but a lack of awareness about the risks linked to alcohol and unhealthy lifestyle choices could slow this progress.
The overall death rate for cancer has dropped 33% from 1991 to 2021, which is the equivalent of 4.1 million fewer deaths due to cancer, according to the Cancer Progress Report 2024 from the American Association for Cancer Research. The 5-year survival rate has improved for children, adolescents, and young adults, with about 85% now living at least 5 years beyond diagnosis.
While cancer remains primarily a disease that affects older people (57% of diagnoses are among people age 65 and older), the report authors highlighted concerning trends in cancer among middle age adults. Of particular concern is the rising rates of colorectal cancer among younger people, and it is often diagnosed in life-threatening late stages. People in Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) are predicted to have a higher rate of cancer than prior generations.
Public awareness campaigns and regulatory actions are needed to help people take action to reduce their cancer risk, the authors wrote. Of all cancers, 40% have modifiable risk factors, such as reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, or managing body weight, the authors noted.
“Unfortunately, awareness about the link between alcohol and cancer is still low, highlighting the need for public messaging campaigns, such as cancer-specific warning labels displayed on alcoholic beverages, along with effective clinical strategies to reduce the burden of alcohol-related cancers,” the report authors wrote.
Recent analyses have revealed flaws in past conclusions that light or moderate alcohol consumption may have heart health benefits. Those studies, scientists say, didn’t adequately account for people who had quit drinking due to health problems. Newer studies are increasingly pointing toward alcohol use as a major cancer risk factor.
Alcohol usage particularly increases the risk for colorectal, liver, stomach, breast, head, neck, and throat cancers. An estimated 1 in 20 cancers in the U.S. were attributed to alcohol use in 2019, the report stated, noting that starting drinking at an early age increases cancer risk later in life.
The report authors called for increased efforts to help people make lifestyle changes that can reduce their cancer risk. About 1 in 5 cancer diagnoses are related to body weight, poor diet, alcohol use, and physical inactivity. Lifestyle awareness campaigns have been effective in the past, with declining smoking rates being linked to reduced cancer rates.
Meanwhile, medical breakthroughs are fueling improved diagnosis, treatment, and survival. The report lauded treatment breakthroughs for melanoma, small cell lung cancer, and blood cancers.
“Cancer diagnostics are becoming more sophisticated. New technologies, such as spatial transcriptomics, are helping us study tumors at a cellular level. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based approaches are beginning to transform cancer detection, diagnosis, clinical decision making, and treatment response monitoring,” said Patricia M. LoRusso, DO, AACR president, in a news release. “These advances will result in improved patient care.”
