# Cancer deaths fall, but young people face rising risk

> U.S. cancer mortality is declining thanks to medical breakthroughs, but early-onset diagnoses among adults under 50 are climbing, especially in women.
- Title: Cancer deaths fall, but young people face rising risk
- Summary: U.S. cancer mortality is declining thanks to medical breakthroughs, but early-onset diagnoses among adults under 50 are climbing, especially in women. While…
- Keywords: cancer, early-onset cancer, cancer mortality, cancer diagnosis, young adults, women's health, breast cancer, immunotherapy, cancer research, public health, united states, american association for cancer research
- Source: PhillyVoice — https://phillyvoice.com/cancer-trends-deaths-diagnoses-united-states
- Published: 2026-09-16T20:03:17.925+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: cancer, early-onset cancer, cancer mortality, cancer diagnosis, young adults, women's health, breast cancer, immunotherapy, cancer research, public health, united states, american association for cancer research
## Cancer deaths are falling nationwide
Nearly 5 million cancer deaths were averted between 1991 and 2024, driven by advances in immunotherapy, liquid biopsy, and other breakthroughs.

> Cancer mortality continues to decline nationwide, with nearly 5 million cancer deaths averted between 1991 and 2024.
## But new diagnoses keep rising
More than 2 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year, expected to reach 2.5 million by 2050.
## Young adults face rising cancer rates
Early-onset cancers among adults ages 18 to 49 are rising, especially among women, according to the American Association for Cancer Research's 2026 report.
## Fourteen cancer types are increasing
U.S. cancer incidence rates among people 15 to 49 increased for 14 types of cancer between 1990 and 2019, including pancreatic, colon, and breast cancer.
## Women's cancer risk has widened
The rate of diagnoses was 78% higher in women ages 15 to 49 in 2023, compared to 55% higher two decades earlier.
## Global trend shows 80% increase
Globally, the number of cancer diagnoses in people under 50 increased 80% between 1990 and 2019.
## Reasons for the rise remain unclear
Why early-onset cancers are increasing is unknown, though emerging research suggests chronic psychological stress, climate change, and environmental contaminants may play a role.
## One woman's cancer journey
Carolyn Searles of Wallingford was diagnosed with aggressive triple-negative breast cancer at 36, despite having a preventative double mastectomy in 2021 due to a BRCA1 mutation.
## She beat cancer while pregnant
Searles was pregnant with her second child when diagnosed, but received chemotherapy, delivered a healthy son, and continued treatment through immunotherapy and surgery.
## New technologies are transforming care
Emerging treatments include histotripsy, which uses high-frequency sound waves to destroy tumors without damaging nearby tissue, and molecularly targeted therapies that aim directly at cancer's cellular drivers.
## FDA approved 200 new treatments
The Food and Drug Administration approved nearly 200 new cancer treatments between 2019 and 2024, expanding options for patients.

> The Food and Drug Administration approved nearly 200 new cancer treatments between 2019 and 2024.
## Congress must fund cancer research
Congress needs to grant $51 billion for the National Institutes of Health, including at least $8 billion for the National Cancer Institute, to continue advancing cancer research.
## Trump administration delayed cancer funds
The Trump administration prevented appropriated cancer research funds from being awarded in a timely manner, creating delays and uncertainty for researchers.

> the Trump administration "has prevented appropriated funds from being awarded in a timely and predictable manner and administered without unnecessary delay or interference."
## Key takeaway

While overall cancer deaths have dropped significantly, young adults face a growing cancer risk for reasons that remain unclear, suggesting a need for targeted prevention research.