Rising Cancer Rates Among Gen Xers and Millennials: It eased a new health crisis; the war showed itself as a helpful tool for steering people to new habits of health, and provided a platform on which to encourage change.

Introduction

Recent studies reveal a disturbing trend: Generation X and Millennials’ chances of getting cancer are higher than that of their predecessors. This increase in the cancer rates is not just an isolated incidence but one that affects the society in a major way, and which should therefore be of great concern in the society. The continuous shift in cancer to the younger generations, for example, in seventeen types of cancer, may lead to a global health issue that will overload the healthcare systems if solutions to the root causes are not sought.

Comparism With The Past Years Cancer Statistics

Thus, it is possible to note major differences in cancer incidence by generations. People born in the 1990 s have their risks of developing specific cancer types two to three times more than those born in the 1950 s. This pattern is also rather worrisome and indicates that younger generations are exposed to carcinogenic agents at an earlier age. Both of these exposures are probably being transmitted, raising the probability of carcinogenesis as these people grow old.

Key Cancer Types Affected

The study highlights an increased incidence in the following cancers among Gen Xers and Millennials:The study highlights an increased incidence in the following cancers among Gen Xers and Millennials:

Small Intestine Cancer

Thyroid Cancer

World Kidney and Renal Pelvis Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

Ovarian Cancer

Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer (with female prefix)

Oral and Pharynx Cancer not attributed to Human papillomavirus (HPV) (in Females)

Anus Cancer (in males)

Kaposi Sarcoma (in males)

Colorectal Cancer

Endometrial Cancer

Gallbladder and Other Biliary Cancers

Myeloma

Non-Cardia Gastric Cancer

Testicular Cancer

Leukemia

These types are characterized by the steepest rising trends of the incidences and some of them are two to three times higher among the generation born in the 1990s as compared to those born in the 1950s.

Contributing Factors

It is, therefore, impossible to single out one reason that would explain increased cancer incidences among the young people of today. It can be stated that it is a system of obesity, diet, toxins, and epigenomic changes and modifications that exist in an environment of complexity. Knowledge of these factors is necessary when it comes to fighting the rising statistics of the cancer incidence among the Gen Xers and Millennials.

Obesity and the Rates of Cancer

And a new study has also pointed to obesity as one way that cancer incidences have been rising on the background of other factors. It is factual that obesity has links to cancer and research showed that obesity increases the chances of getting at least 10 of the 17 cancers documented in the work. Obesity has increased since the 1970s, especially in the younger population where the rates have risen at the steepest slope.

These are inflammation which is chronic in nature, resistance to insulin and hormonal influence such as estrogen. Such factors contribute to the development of cancer friendly surroundings. This problem is compounded by increased cases of a sedentary lifestyle and undesirable eating habits, which leads to a higher prevalence of obesity so; higher incidences of cancer are recorded.

The western diet and it’s outcomes

The other important factor provoking the increase in cancer incidence is attributed to the increase in the consumption of Western diet which is normally associated with high intake of saturated fats, sugar, refined grains and ultra processed foods. New data indicates that application of this diet results not only in a gain of body weight, but also in a direct connection to specific types of cancer, namely, colon and breast cancer.

The consumption of foods that are rich in fats and proteins related to a Western diet have therefore changed the Nutrigenomic pattern of many of the young leading to diet related diseases. Such a diet plan leads to obesity and being overweight, which, as it has been said above, is a significant hazard factor of various types of cancer.

This paper will inform the reader on the relationship between the gut microbiome and cancer risk.

The latest studies have suggested a relationship between fluctuations of the bacterial population in the gut, and increasing rates of cancer of the digestive tract. The full operational suffix of the human symbionts is a key considerate affecting health, immunity and inflammation.

The practices of using antibiotics and consuming a Western diet have posed a great threat to the microbiome affecting the number of positive bacteria in the gut and the numbers of negative bacteria. These changes might be responsible for the generation of cancers of the oral and gastrointestinal tracts. While the processes are a topic of research, data indicates that a good balance of gut flora is beneficial in preventing the development of cancer.

Environmental Toxins

Pesticides have been shown to have direct links to the occurrence of cancer in human beings Matusal. It highlights several toxins that could possibly be responsible for increasing cancer cases among the young people. These include:

Plastics and another degradation solution

Aflatoxins

Benzene

Soot

Arsenic

Aristolochic Acids

Nickel Compounds

Radon

Thorium

Trichloroethylene

Vinyl Chloride

Wood Dust

These substances are found in different features of environment and can be inhaled, ingested or pass through dermal route. These toxins if ingested, accumulated in the body and may cause changes in the genes, which may in turn cause cancer in the long run.

Epigenetics and Cancer

Epigenetic modifications which are known to be affected by various environmental and lifestyle parameters are definitely responsible for cancer risk. In contrast to the gene changes, epigenetic changes are an ability of genes to be activated and produce a product. Such changes can be inherited and hence whatever a people or their parents or grandparents went through in terms of their behaviours as well as the exposures they had, such changes can be seen to run in the family genes.

This branch of research is not developed enough, but the existing data confirm that epigenetic modifications play a role in the increased levels of cancer in the new generation. Such changes could give rise to fresh program of prevention and cure for cancer related diseases.

Current Research and Findings

The research conducted by the researchers and published in the Lancet Public Health describes the state of cancer rate and its outcomes for different generations. In this regard, the study is useful in shedding some light on the evolving trends in cancer given that it involved more than 23 million patients with cancer and more than 7 million cancer-related mortalities in the US.

The findings are clear: cancer diagnoses are increasing in younger people, and it cannot be explained only by the growth of efficient diagnostic techniques. The present work also stresses the importance of the continued investigation of these trends and stresses that the determent factors of these trends should be relieved to avoid the future health issues.

Primary and Secondary Interventions and Public Health Management

Taking into account the tendencies in cancer risks within the population of Gen X and Millennials, the proper means of prevention and public health approaches should be enacted. The low awareness of screening practices among the target population is considered to be the main cause of high cancer mortality rates because early detection helps improve the chances of recovery.

Conclusion

It is disappointing that with the present generations of Gen Xers and Millennials when cancer incidence is on the rise, it may suggest a health crisis for the future. To rid society of this problem, more studies of the tendency and its causes must be conducted, social health campaigns organized, and preventive measures taken. When these factors that lead to these trends have been diagnosed, measures can be taken to reverse these trends hence emerging with better and improved results for future generations whenever they are diagnosed with this sickle cell cancer.