© 2024 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association

140 Lower Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14202

Mailing Address:
Horizons Plaza P.O. Box 1263
Buffalo, NY 14240-1263

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Phone 716-845-7000
WBFO Newsroom | Phone: 716-845-7040
Your NPR Station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

In Good Health: Cancer patients are getting diagnosed younger. Why?

A patient receives a checkup from a doctor at the South Broward Community Health Services clinic in Hollywood, Florida.
A patient receives a checkup from a doctor at the South Broward Community Health Services clinic in Hollywood, Florida.

Anumber of studiesin the past few years have shown that cancer rates in the U.S. and around the world are rising for younger people.

While the majority of cancer patients are still over the age of 65, the share of cancer patients between the ages of 50 and 64 and under 50 represent a growing share of cancer diagnoses.

Researchers have noted in particularhigher ratesof breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers, beginning as recently as three decades ago.

We speak with researchers who’ve studied this rise in cancer diagnoses and clinicians who treat cancer every day.

Copyright 2024 WAMU 88.5

Lauren Hamilton, Michael Falero