Cancer can have an enormous impact on your life and the life of your loved ones. Not only can it cause you to feel extremely unwell, but it can also cause mood changes as you struggle to cope with the diagnosis.
Unfortunately, over the last few years, we’ve seen a considerable increase in the number of people diagnosed with cancer in the US. In fact, almost all of us will know someone fighting this deadly disease or who sadly lost their battle. But why have we seen such a significant increase in the number of people diagnosed with cancer? Keep reading below to find out all about cancer in the US and why we have seen a rise in the number of cancer diagnoses:
What is Cancer?
Cancer is a general term for a substantial group of diseases that can have an effect on your body. One of cancers most talked about features is the quick creation of abnormal cells that grow past their usual boundaries. These cells can spread to other body areas, including other organs. If left untreated, these cells can be deadly.
The Most Common Types of Cancer
The WHO (World Health Organization) states that the most common types of cancer are:
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer
- Rectal and colon cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Nonmelanoma skin cancer
What Causes Cancer?
While doctors have an idea of what may increase your risk of developing cancer, most cancers occur in people with no known risk factors. However, here are some of the things that could increase your chances of getting cancer:
Your age – most people diagnosed with cancer are over the age of sixty-five.
Lifestyle choices – smoking, drinking, and excessive exposure to the sun can all increase your chances of getting cancer.
Your family history – if cancer runs in your family, you are at an increased risk of developing it yourself.
Health conditions – some chronic diseases can increase your risk.
Your environment can also be a risk factor, including where you live or work, as you can be exposed to all kinds of toxins. One case in point is of the toxic pollution produced by a company named Sterigenics in Illinois. Click here to learn more about how this toxic pollution has increased the cancer risk of the residents and find out what you can do if you’ve been affected by this.
Why Are Cancer Rates in the US Rising?
There are many reasons why we are seeing an increase in the number of people in the US diagnosed with cancer. One of the main reasons more people are being diagnosed is because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, many people were unwilling to visit their doctor when they were unwell. However, now that the pandemic is under control, people are starting to see their doctors about their problems. This is leading to an increase in the number of people being diagnosed with cancer.
Another reason cancer rates are on the rise is that the population is getting older. Evidence has shown that we are much more likely to get cancer as we age. In fact, over three-quarters of people diagnosed with cancer are sixty or older.
Evidence has shown that more people than ever have been diagnosed with cancer in the US this year. While many people can recover from this horrible disease, it is still considered one of the leading causes of death, accounting for nearly ten million deaths worldwide each year. Thankfully, new medicines are constantly being introduced that aim to reduce the number of people dying from this disease. As well as this, we are learning more about the causes of cancer and what we can do to reduce our chances of getting it.
