NPR: Cancer Diagnoses Are More Common But So Is Surviving
NPR and The New York Times recently interviewed epidemiologist Jane Figueiredo, PhD, professor of Medicine and director of Community and Population Health Research at Cedars-Sinai Cancer, about a report on cancer trends in the U.S. from the American Association for Cancer Research.
Figueiredo, who helped prepare the report, told NPR that advances in early detection and better treatments have improved survival rates for some of the deadliest cancers. But at the same time, cancer diagnoses are becoming more common, especially among young adults.
“It’s very concerning; these are individuals that are in the prime of their life,” Figueiredo told NPR. “These are individuals that are trying to advance their careers. They may be caring for children or family members, trying to save money, and they often don’t recognize some of their symptoms.”
Figueiredo told The New York Times that drinking alcohol—which affects the gut microbiome—could be one factor influencing the number of adults under 50 who are developing breast cancer and colorectal cancer at higher rates.
“Fifty-one percent of people—or more than half—do not know that alcohol increases your risk of cancer,” she said. “We can talk about the myth that red wine has potential cardiovascular benefits, but there are many ways to keep your heart healthy, and these potential benefits don’t really outweigh your cancer risks.”
The report’s authors recommended reducing cancer risk by drinking less alcohol, not smoking, exercising, eating a healthy diet and limiting exposure to pollutants.
Click here to listen to the entire segment from NPR. Click here to read the complete article from The New York Times.