Trends in Early Onset Cancers
, by Brittany Cordeiro, B.A.
Doctor and woman visit in doctor's office. Certain cancers have risen among younger people.
NCI researchers led by Meredith Shiels, Ph.D., senior investigator in the Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch, took a comprehensive look at age-standardized cancer incidence (2010 to 2019) and mortality rates (2010 to 2022) in the United States to understand early onset cancers, which is cancers in people under age 50. The study analyzed trends for 33 cancer types among ages 15 to 29, 30 to 39, and 40 to 49 years, compared to age groups through ages 70 to 79 years. The results show the incidence of 14 cancer types increased among people under age 50. Of these cancer types, nine—including several common cancers, such as breast cancer and colorectal cancer—also increased in some groups of people aged 50 and older. However, the total rate of all cancers diagnosed in both younger and older age groups did not increase, nor did the rate of cancer death. The results could generate insights into risk factors, both new and established, that are particularly important in early age groups.
The study was published on May 8, 2025, in Cancer Discovery.
Read the NCI Press Release to learn more.
REFERENCE
Shiels MS, et. al. Trends in cancer incidence and mortality rates in early onset and older onset age groups in the United States, 2010-2019. Cancer Discovery. 2025.