A new study published in the journal Cancer is showing just how important cancer prevention and early detection efforts are. The study used data from the Global Cancer Observatory that took into account 185 different countries and 30 different types of cancer. Based on the data, cancer researchers are projecting a 93% increase in cancer deaths among men between 2022 and 2050. The predictions indicate that men 65 and older are most at risk.
Why are researchers predicting such a drastic increase in cancer death, especially for men? Here, the study’s lead author as well as an oncologist shed light on the new research and give tips on how you can lower your risk.
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Why Cancer Deaths Are On the Rise
When considering the new data, Dr. Samuel Riney, MD , an oncologist at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, says it’s important to remember that this is a global study and it’s not specific to the U.S. This is noteworthy because countries with a low to medium human development index are disproportionately impacted.
But even taking that into account, cancer deaths are still on the rise in the U.S., particularly among men 65 and older. Dr. Riney says that there are several reasons why men are being impacted by cancer more than women. One is due to non-existent or minimal cancer screening programs focused specifically on men. “Screening for and prevention of breast cancer and cervical cancer has been widely shown to reduce cancer mortality in women. However, these types of programs are not readily available for male-specific cancers,” he says.
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Additionally, Dr. Riney says men are more likely to smoke or drink alcohol in excess , habits that greatly increase the risk of many types of cancer. “Men are also generally less likely to utilize available medical resources in their communities,” Dr. Riney says, hitting on another reason why cancer rates are rising in men more than women. The study’s lead author, epidemiologist Dr. Habtamu Bizuayehu, PhD, MPH , adds to this, saying that men participate less in shared screening programs, such as those for colorectal cancer. In general, men are less likely to see a doctor than women .
How to Lower Your Risk
There's quite a bit everyone can do to lower their risk of cancer. If you smoke or vape, Dr. Bizuayehu and Dr. Riney both say that quitting is the best action you can take to lower your risk. Smoking increases the risk of 18 different types of cancers and is the cause of up to 90% of lung cancer cases in men .
Both doctors also say that anyone who wants to lower their risk of cancer should minimize alcohol consumption. “Excessive alcohol intake is linked to various cancers. Individuals should follow guidelines for moderate alcohol consumption and seek help if they have difficulty reducing their intake,” Dr. Bizuayehu says.
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Besides not smoking or drinking an excessive amount of alcohol, Dr. Riney says having other healthy habits in place can go a long way too. Eating a nutrient-rich diet, exercising regularly and wearing sunscreen are important for everyone who wants to reduce their risk of cancer.
Both experts say that it’s also important to know your risk of certain types of cancers (such as if any run in your family) and stay on top of cancer screenings. “While visiting with your primary care provider, discuss any family history of cancer, and don't forget to ask about guidelines for age-appropriate cancer screenings and which tests may be right for you,” Dr. Riney says.
While prioritizing your health in these ways is important, access to screenings and healthcare providers is also crucial. “Health systems should strive to ensure that all individuals have access to affordable, high-quality cancer prevention, screening and treatment services. This includes expanding health infrastructure and training healthcare professionals,” Dr. Bizuayehu says. He adds that investing in cancer research is important for developing better prevention, diagnosis and treatment methods.
Turning the alarming cancer death predictions around will require actions done on a structural level (like better access to healthcare providers, cancer screenings and treatments) as well as on an individual level (like maintaining healthy habits). With collective effort, we can turn the statistics around. And that’s pretty empowering.
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Sources
- Dr. Samuel Riney, MD, oncologist at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
- Dr. Habtamu Bizuayehu, PhD, MPH , epidemiologist working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the First Nations Cancer & Wellbeing Research Program, School of Public Health, University of Queensland
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