"The share of adults who said they had been diagnosed with cancer hovered at or just above 7% from 2008-2009 period through 2014-2015, before it began to climb. Between the lines: The seemingly bad news is threaded by a silver lining:One reason for the climb in lifetime cancer rates, Gallup notes, is because people are living longer after their diagnoses."
"Per the NIH's National Cancer Institute, advancing age is the most important risk factor for cancer, with incidence rates climbing as patients gray. Yes, but: There has also been a rise in certain cancers, like colorectal cancer, among younger patients. Zoom in: Men surpassed women in lifetime cancer diagnoses (9.8% versus 9.6%), with the share of men who have been told they have cancer jumping 3.6 points since Gallup's 2008-2009 data."
"By the numbers: Older Americans have much higher rates of lifetime diagnoses than younger adults. And per Gallup, the share of those aged 65 and older who have been diagnosed with cancer has risen 3.4 percentage points from 2008-2009 period to 2024-2025. The most recent Gallup analysis showed that 21.5% of those 65 and older had been told by a doctor or nurse that they had cancer, compared to nearly 9% of those in the next oldest age bracket, 45 to 64."
Gallup two-year averaged data indicate lifetime cancer diagnosis rates have increased from about 7% in 2008–2015 to a new peak in 2024–2025. Older adults face much higher lifetime diagnosis rates, with the 65+ group rising 3.4 percentage points to 21.5%, while adults 45–64 are near 9%. Advancing age is the primary cancer risk factor and the U.S. population is aging. Improved survival after diagnosis raises lifetime prevalence. Men slightly surpass women in lifetime diagnoses, aided by larger mortality declines for certain cancers. Racial and insurance-driven disparities limit access and affect outcomes, and some cancers are rising among younger adults.
Read at Axios
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