Waterloo Times

Allen Memorial Hospital  issued the following announcement on March3.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of adult deaths in the U.S., followed by heart disease. Andrew Nish, MD, John Stoddard Cancer Director, helps us understand the most dangerous cancers as outlined by the American Cancer Society’s 2022 annual Facts & Figures report.

NOTE: The numbers don’t include basal cell (most common skin cancer) and squamous cell (second most common skin cancer) skin cancers, since they’re not regularly reported to cancer registries.

Top 2022 Cancer Statistics

1.9 million new cancer cases are expected in 2022

609,000 Americans are expected to die from cancer in 2022

1 in 3 women will develop cancer in their lifetime

1 in 2 men will develop cancer in their lifetime

Five Most Dangerous Cancers in Men

These five cancers are predicted to take nearly 179,000 male lives in a year.

Lung & Bronchus – 68,820 male deaths

Prostate - 34,500 male deaths

Colon & Rectum - 28,400 male deaths

Pancreas – 25,970 male deaths

Liver & Intrahepatic Bile Duct – 20,420 male deaths

Cancer Deaths in Men by Percent

21% - Lung & Bronchus

11% - Prostate

9% - Colon & Rectum

9% - Pancreas

6% - Liver

4% - Leukemia

4% - Esophagus

4% - Bladder

4% - Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

3% - Brain & Nervous System

26% - Other

Five Most Dangerous Cancers in Women

These five cancers are predicted to take nearly 165,500 female lives in a year.

Lung & Bronchus – 61,360 female deaths

Breast – 43,250 female deaths

Colon & Rectum – 24,180 female deaths

Pancreas – 23,860 female deaths

Ovary – 12,810 female deaths

Cancer Deaths in Females by Percent

21% - Lung & Bronchus

15% - Breast

8% - Colon & Rectum

8% - Pancreas

4% - Ovary

4% - Uterine

4% - Liver

3% - Leukemia

3% - Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

3% - Brain & Nervous System

Why is Lung Cancer the Most Common?

Even though lung cancer is the deadliest cancer for men and women, the rates are declining in the U.S. Experts contribute the drop to fewer smokers and improvements in treatments for non-small cell lung cancer. 

“Cigarette smoke is by far the highest cause of lung cancer in the U.S., but exposure to other environmental factors could also increase your risk. Radon gas, which is naturally occurring in the soil and can collect in indoor spaces, is the second leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for an estimated 21,000 deaths per year. Secondhand smoke, asbestos, radiation, air pollution and diesel exhaust are other contributing factors,” Dr. Nish says.

Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer 

Persistent cough

Sputum (saliva mixed with mucus) streaked with blood

Chest pain

Hoarse voice

Worsening shortness of breath

Recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis

“These signs and symptoms of lung cancer don’t usually appear until the cancer is more advanced. Early detection is very important, so talk to your doctor about screenings available to you,” Dr. Nish says.

Why is Colon Cancer on the Rise in Younger People?

Colorectal cancer has generally declined since the early 1990s for those 50 and older due to more people following colonoscopy screening guidelines. However, colon cancer cases are rising in younger people. There is speculation it may be related to overweight and obesity, highly processed diet, lack of physical activity and toxins in the environment, but as of now, a definitive cause is unknown.

“Most colorectal cancer diagnosed in adults younger than 50 are called ‘sporadic,’ meaning they don’t have a genetic or family risk, and they aren’t associated with a pre-existing condition such as inflammatory bowel disease. There is some research underway to understand the composition of the gut microbiome, or the trillions of bacteria in your gut, and how it may impact your risk for colon cancer,” Dr. Nish says.

Signs and Symptoms of Colon Cancer:

Rectal bleeding

Blood in stool

Change in bowel habits or stool shape (stool that becomes narrower)

Feeling like the bowel doesn’t completely empty

Abdominal cramping or pain

Decreased appetite

Weight loss

Weakness and fatigue

Due to the increase of cases in younger adults, it’s important to check in with your primary care provider if you notice any of these symptoms.

Most Dangerous Cancers Explained

Lung & Bronchus

Lung and bronchial cancer causes more deaths in the U.S. than any other type of cancer in both men and women. Although survival rates have increased over the years due to improved treatments, the outlook is still bleak. The five-year survival rate is only 22%.

Breast

The breast cancer death rate among women peaked in 1989. The drop is attributed to increase use of breast cancer screenings that improve early detection and survival rates. The five-year survival rate is 90% and the 10-year survival rate is 84%. While survival has improved, healthcare inequities are still an issue. For example, the survival rate is 10% lower for Black women than for White women.

Prostate

Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Survival rates are directly associated with early detection, so men should follow their doctor’s screening advice. The five-year survival rate in men who are diagnosed early is nearly 100%. The incidence of prostate cancer is 73% higher in Black men than White men for unknown reasons. Besides age and family history of disease, African ancestry is a leading risk factor for prostate cancer.

Colon & Rectum

The third most common cancer in men and women, colon and rectal cancer cases begin as clumps of benign cells, called polyps. Over time, these cells become cancerous. Screening is recommended for people over the age of 45 but should be considered earlier if the person is at increased risk. Due to early detection from screenings, colon cancer incidence rates decreased by about 2% percent from 2014 to 2018 in adults age 50 and older. However, it increased by 1.5% per year in younger individuals.

Pancreas

Because pancreatic cancer progresses rapidly, and no method of early detection is currently available, it’s one of the most dangerous types of cancer. The incidence rate has increased by about 1% per year since 2000. The five-year survival rate sits at only 11%. In addition, pancreatic cancer has shown resistance to chemotherapy, so clinical trials are taking place to develop alternative treatments.

Liver & Intrahepatic Bile Duct

Liver cancer is more common in men than women. Liver cancer diagnoses tripled from 1980 to 2015 but appear to have stabilized recently. At least 70% of liver cancer in the U.S. could be prevented by managing risk factors including excess body weight, smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. Hepatitis C, hepatitis B and Type 2 diabetes also increase risk. Liver cancer is dangerous, because it does not cause symptoms until it’s later stages, and early detection is difficult. The five-year survival rate is just 20%.

Ovary

Because ovarian cancer does not usually have symptoms, or, has symptoms that tend to be associated with other issues, early detection is difficult. Women who are most at risk are those with a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Preventative surgery to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes can decrease this risk dramatically. Women who smoke and are overweight are also at a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. The five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is only 49%.

10 Ways to Prevent Deadly Cancers

While 5% to 10% of cancer cases are due to genetic defects, 90% to 95% are because of environmental and lifestyle factors. Lifestyle modifications to prevent cancer include:

Stop smoking/using tobacco

Improve nutrition by adding more vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds

Decrease consumption of processed foods

Prevent heavy alcohol use

Reduce obesity levels

Increase activity – get up and move

Protect your skin by wearing sunscreen and avoiding indoor tanning

Participate in age-appropriate screenings

Reduce exposure to environmental pollution

Get vaccinated with the HPV vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine

“If you have questions about your diet, screenings, vaccines, exercise, skin care or any other cancer prevention techniques, start by asking your primary care provider. And, if you notice something doesn’t feel right for your body — say something. It’s the most important way to advocate for yourself and your health,” Dr. Nish says.

Original source can be found here.