Despite declining cancer death rates overall, new findings from the 2025 American Cancer Society Cancer Facts and Figures reveal a troubling increase in cancer incidence among women, particularly in two key age groups: younger than 50 and 50–64. These findings highlight the importance of proactive lifestyle changes and regular screenings in mitigating cancer risks.
For women under 50, the risk of developing cancer is now 82 percent higher than their male counterparts, up from 51 percent in 2002. According to the study, contributing factors include lifestyle changes among women born after the 1950s, such as increased smoking rates, obesity and sedentary habits.
“This increase in cancer diagnoses among women younger than 50 years old is largely breast and thyroid cancers,” said Dr. Mahvish Muzaffar, a hematologist/oncologist at ECU Health. “This reinforces the critical need for routine mammograms and awareness of risk factors in this demographic. Advances in diagnostic technologies, like incidental findings during scans, have contributed to the rise in finding thyroid cancer cases.”
While lung cancer rates are declining overall, the decrease has been more significant for men than for women. In 2021 among adults younger than 65, more women were diagnosed with lung cancer than men.
“Men adopted smoking earlier but also quit sooner and more aggressively, resulting in a three percent annual decrease in lung cancer cases compared to a 1.4 percent decrease among women,” said Dr. Muzaffar. “Smoking cessation remains a crucial intervention, particularly for women who began smoking later and have been slower to quit.”
Advancements in cancer screenings and awareness campaigns have played a significant role in reducing cancer rates for some types. Prostate cancer cases among men, for instance, have declined due to more judicious use of PSA screenings. Similarly, HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening have decreased rates of HPV-related cancers. However, some groups, particularly women aged 30–44, have seen an increase in cervical cancer incidence, potentially due to under-screening.
Dr. Muzaffar emphasized the role of lifestyle factors and screening in addressing these trends.
“The three most common cancers—breast, lung, and colorectal—all have effective screening methods,” said Dr. Muzaffar. “It’s crucial for women, and everyone, to prioritize their health, get routine mammograms and undergo screenings for these common cancers if they meet the criteria.”
As researchers continue to analyze cancer trends, further studies will be needed to explore the impact of factors like vaping, dietary habits and environmental exposures, Dr. Muzaffar noted. She also said ECU Health has observed an increasing number of younger patients with advanced cancer diagnoses.
“We haven’t conducted a formal study to compare our regional trends to national data, but anecdotally, we are seeing more young patients with cancer,” she said. “This could be an area for further research.”
The increase in cancer rates among women underscores the need for continued public health efforts focused on prevention, early detection, and lifestyle modifications. Women, particularly those over 30, should remain vigilant about their health and take advantage of available screening options to catch cancer early when it is most treatable. For more information about cancer screenings and treatment options, please visit ECUHealth.org/Cancer.