Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, explains how early detection of breast cancer has improved with the assistance of artificial intelligence and discusses the factors contributing to increasing stress in the United States.
Although deaths from breast cancer have declined for decades in America, diagnoses have increased among women 50 and younger, according to a 2024 American Cancer Society breast cancer study.
The good news, however, is that since 1989, mortality from breast cancer has declined overall by 44%, but diagnoses of the disease have risen by 1% yearly between 2012 and 2021.
The report revealed that the most significant spike was seen among women younger than 50 — 1.4% yearly—and Asian-American/Pacific-Islander women—up to 2.7% yearly. The findings were published in the CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
“Although the breast cancer death rate has declined by 44% thanks to advances in early detection and treatment, the continued increase in breast cancer incidence may slow progress in the future,” said an associate scientist in cancer surveillance research at the ACS and lead author Angela Giaquinto.
That is particularly the case among women younger than 50, said Giaquinto, whose rates are increasing by 1.4% yearly compared to 0.7% in older women.
Chief scientific officer at the ACS, Dr. William Dahut, noted women are “a lot less likely” to die from breast cancer but that “alarming disparities” remain — in particular for Black, Asian-American, Native American, and Pacific Islander women.
“These gaps need to be rectified through systematic efforts to ensure access to high-quality screening and treatment for every woman,” stated Dahut in the release.
The report collected cancer data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program and the National Center for Health Statistics and Prevention’s National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR).
Breast cancer, second only to skin cancer, is the most prevalent cancer among women.
According to the ACS, this year, approximately 310,720 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, with about 42,250 dying from the disease.
“The increased prevalence of breast cancer is not only an issue in the U.S. — we are seeing similar trends in other countries as well,” said associate chief of breast surgery at Hackensack Medical Center in New Jersey, Dr. Christopher McGreevy.
Possible reasons for the younger trend
“The reasons for the increased prevalence of breast cancer in younger patients are complicated, multifaceted, and still being studied,” McGreevy, who wasn’t involved in the report, said.
The doctor noted that one reason for early-onset breast cancer is that more patients are obese, stated the doctor.
“Excess weight, particularly after menopause, fuels estrogen production, a key driver of certain breast cancers,” said McGreevy.
McGreevy noted that delaying childbearing can also increase the disease’s onset, as pregnancy reduces breast cancer risk in women.
“Environmental toxins, lurking in everything from plastics to pesticides, are also suspected contributors,” said McGreevy. “These endocrine disruptors mimic estrogen in the body, potentially triggering abnormal cell growth.”
According to the doctor, genetics could also factor into the increase.
“Certain gene mutations, like BRCA1 and BRCA2, significantly elevate the risk of breast cancer, even at a young age,” said McGreevy.
Researchers also suggest that the rise among younger women could be a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is fueled by delays in diagnoses due to interruptions in screening.
Possible limitations
Researchers acknowledged that there were some limitations associated with the study.
“The risk and trends in the study are for all women and are not able to account for individual patient characteristics, such as comorbidities or treatment received, or control for social determinants of health, such as insurance status,” said Giaquinto.
“We also present statistics for the broadly defined racial and ethnic groups, which mask substantial differences within these populations.”
Tips for prevention
The best means of prevention is to discuss getting screened with your doctor, explained Giaquinto.
“Early detection of breast cancer is one of the best tools we have for improving survival,” said Giaquinto.
“All women should keep up to date with their recommended breast cancer screenings. This is especially relevant for younger women, as the recommended age of the United States Preventative Services Task Force was recently dropped to age 40.”
Giaquinto added that women should know their personal risk factors and family history.
“Women can also reduce their risk of breast cancer by moderating alcohol consumption if they drink, maintaining a healthy body weight, and being physically active,” advised the researcher. “About 30% of all breast cancers are attributed to these lifestyle factors.”
