Study: Cancer Spike 45 Percent In Next 20 Years

With the cause of cancer still largely unknown, cases are expected to spike in the next 20 years.  U.S. researchers report that newly diagnosed cancer cases will increase by 45 percent in the next  two decades in the U.S.  

Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center report the spike will hit the elderly and minority populations.  In 2010, 1.6 million cases diagnosed annually will rise to 2.3 million by the year 2030.

The research is published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

For an elderly person, a 67 percent increase in cancer among people ages 65 and older will stress the already overstressed healthcare system.

Senior author, Ben Smith says that by the year 2030, the majority – 70 percent – of all cancers will be diagnosed in the aging baby boomers and 28 percent will be diagnosed in minorities. 

In a joint American-British study on cancer prevention issued in February, a published study encourages avoiding smoking, adding exercise, maintaining a healthier weight, and consuming better foods at the top of a list as ways to avoid getting cancer.   

Once can check their weight by measuring their Body-Mass Index, which is a mathematical calculation to see if you are overweight or obese.

The research by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) and the World Cancer Research Fund, based in the U.K. finds that lifestyle changes are simple and may be able to prevent about 38 percent of breast cancer and 45 percent of bowel cancers in the U.S.   

Other policy recommendations from AICR include:

• Ban junk foods from vending machines and add bicycle lanes to public roads are two things that can improve health
• Schools should encourage exercise and provide healthy food
• Health professionals should provide more information about healthy living and cancer prevention
• People should use nutrition guides and food labels to buy healthier foods for their families
• Work 20-30 minutes of exercise into your daily routine at least four days a week

For women, cutting even moderate alcohol consumption may improve their chance of not getting cancer.   

Looking at cancer rates around the world, the report finds that the UK, Spain, Australia and Japan all have longer life spans than the U.S. #