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IN THE 50’S AND 60’S. THAT’S OKAY. THANK YOU ERIC. THE RISK OF DYING FROM CANCER HAS DECREASED FOR YEARS AGO. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE RISK OF CONTRACTING IT IS INCREASING. DARLENE MELENDEZ ASKS KOAT UNM HEALTH EXPERT DOCTOR ASH ABOUT THIS TREND. THE RISK OF DEATH HAS DECLINED OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS THANKS TO EARLY DETECTION, CUTS IN SMOKING RATES, and advances in treatments. BUT THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY SAYS THE U.S. EXPECTS TO SEE MORE THAN 2 MILLION CANCER DIAGNOSES THIS YEAR. THAT’S OVER 5500 A DAY, DOCTOR ASH, WHAT’S CAUSING THIS? IS THERE A PARTICULAR TYPE OF CANCER TO WATCH? THE INCREASE IN CANCER RATES IS LARGELY DRIVEN BY INCREASES IN SIX OF THE MOST COMMON CANCERS, INCLUDING BREAST, PROSTATE, UTERINE, PANCREAS, KIDNEY, AND MELANOMA OR OTHER SKIN CANCERS. YOU KNOW, MANY OF THESE HAVE SCREENING SO THAT CANCER CANCERS CAN BE CATCHED AND TREATED BEFORE THEY THREATENING LIFE. BUT COLON AND CERVICAL CANCER SCREENINGS CAN ACTUALLY PREVENT CANCER. THIS IS BECAUSE THESE EXAMS DETECT GROWTHS THAT CAN BE REMOVED BEFORE THEY BECOME TUMORS. AND DOCTOR ASH, WHAT ELSE ARE WE SEEING IN THESE TRENDS? PROGRESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER IS SLOWER IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. FOR EXAMPLE, NATIVE AMERICAN GROUPS HAVE DOUBLED DEATH RATES FROM LIVER, STOMACH, OR KIDNEY CANCER COMPARED TO CAUCASIAN PEOPLE. AND THOSE IN THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY FACE UNIQUE RISKS IN DEVELOPING CANCER SUCH AS CERVICAL CANCER. IN GENERAL, THE RISK OF CANCER IS OFTEN LINKED TO AGE, BUT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE PEOPLE DEVELOPING DISEASES EVEN YOUNGER. WE KNOW THAT FOR PEOPLE UNDER 50, COLORECTAL CANCER IS LINKED TO FAMILY HISTORY. AND THEREFORE, TEST BEFORE 45 CAN BE SUPER USEFUL. BUT THERE IS AN ENCOURAGING SIGN IN YOUNGER ADULT WOMEN, AGES 20 TO 24, WHO WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE HPV VACCINE. WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A DECREASE IN CERVICAL CANCER RATES. Ultimately, IT IS BEST TO MEET WITH YOUR DOCTOR AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SHOULD
Cancer deaths decline despite increased risk
Updated: 7:15 pm MST January 31, 2024
The risk of dying from cancer has been decreasing for years. However, this is because cancer risks are currently increasing. Dr. Abinash Achrekar, a health expert from KOAT and the University of New Mexico, spoke about this trend. “The risk of death has actually been decreasing over the last 30 years,” Achrekar said. “Thanks to early detection, cuts in smoking rates and advances in treatments. But the American Cancer Society says the United States is expected to see more than 2 million cancer diagnoses this year,” Achrekar said. “That’s more than 55,000 a day.” Achrekar told viewers that the rising rates of cancer diagnoses are due to six common cancers: breast, prostate, uterine, pancreas, kidney and skin cancers, respectively. Stay up to date with the latest health news: Health Beat on Action 7 NewsCancer Treatment can have different impacts depending on demographics. Achrekar noticed a disturbing trend among members of Native communities living with this deadly disease. “Progress in the fight against cancer is slower in communities of color,” Achrekar said. “For example, Native American groups have twice as many deaths.” “And those in the LGBTQ+ community face unique risks in developing the disease,” Achrekar said. “In general, cancer risk is often related to age, but we are starting to see people under 50, colorectal cancer is linked to family history, so screening before 45 can be helpful,” Achrekar said. “But there is an encouraging sign: in younger adult women, ages 20 to 24, who were able to receive the HPV vaccine, we are starting to see a decline in rates of cervical cancer.” Achrekar recommends meeting with your doctor at least once a year to understand what to screen for and when. Action 7 News on the go: Download our app for free
The risk of dying from cancer has been decreasing for years. However, this comes as cancer risks are currently increasing.
Dr. Abinash Achrekar, a health expert from KOAT and the University of New Mexico, spoke about this trend.
“The risk of death has actually been decreasing over the last 30 years,” Achrekar said. “Thanks to early detection, reduction in smoking rates and advances in treatments.
“But the American Cancer Society says the United States is expected to see more than 2 million cancer diagnoses this year,” Achrekar said. “That’s more than 55,000 a day.”
Achrekar told viewers that the increasing rates of cancer diagnoses are due to six common types of cancer. These are cancers of the breast, prostate, uterus, pancreas, kidney and skin, respectively.
Stay up to date with the latest health news: Health Beat in Action 7 News
Cancer treatment can have different impacts depending on demographics. Achrekar noticed a disturbing trend among members of the Native community living with the deadly disease.
“Progress in the fight against cancer is slower in communities of color,” Achrekar said. “For example, Native American groups have twice the mortality from liver, stomach or kidney cancer than whites.”
“And members of the LGBTQ+ community face unique risks of developing the disease,” Achrekar said. “In general, the risk of cancer is usually related to age, but we are starting to see people developing the disease much younger.”
Some cancers have also been linked to family health history.
“For people under 50, colorectal cancer is linked to family history, so screening before age 45 may be helpful,” Achrekar said. “But there is an encouraging sign: In younger adult women, ages 20 to 24, who were able to receive the HPV vaccine, we are starting to see a decline in cervical cancer rates.”
Achrekar recommends meeting with your doctor at least once a year to understand what you should screen for and when.
Action 7 News on the Go: Download our app for free