If you’re like many Americans, you may have noticed that there appear to be more illnesses these days. Not only are more people coming down with communicable diseases and developing chronic medical conditions but it seems like the number of conditions has grown over the last few decades. Some argue that illnesses haven’t actually gotten more common; it’s simply a matter of hearing more about people being sick thanks to global news coverage, social media, and other informational sources being available. Others insist sickness really is becoming more prevalent.
Is Cancer Becoming More Prevalent?
Of the many conditions people contend with at present, cancer is one of the more widespread. In fact, it’s one of the world’s leading causes of death and leaves millions of people searching for hospice near me each year. Is cancer truly on the rise in modern times, though, or are we simply hearing more about the various forms of cancer and the number of people who suffer from them? Could it simply be that more forms of cancer have been discovered? The answer to this question may surprise you no matter which side of the argument you’re on.
Taking a Look at the Statistics
Quite a few sources indicate that cancer is, in fact, becoming more prevalent with each passing year. It has been for decades now, and analysts don’t expect the trend to turn back in the right direction any time soon. Based on the latest reports, there were 18.1 million new cancer diagnoses globally in 2018 and 9.5 million related deaths for that same year. By 2040, the total of new cancer cases each year is expected to surpass 29 million with 16.4 million people losing their lives to these diseases.
It’s also important to note that cancer and its global uptick know no bounds. This isn’t a development that’s only affecting older people. Recent studies show that the number of people ages 15 to 39 who develop cancer has surged by nearly 40 percent over the last 50 years. Even younger people are being impacted as well with the average rate of new cancer diagnoses in children increasing by 27 percent.
Why Is Cancer Becoming More Common?
Quite a few people are left to wonder how this is the case. We live in a world of monumental technological advancements and medical breakthroughs, so how can the number of cancer cases be on the rise? Experts say quite a few factors could be contributing to the situation. For one, reports indicate that obesity is on the rise, and this, alone, increases the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Some also point out that environmental elements are at least partially responsible for the surge in cancer diagnoses. Air pollution, water contamination, and food additives are among the primary concerns in this regard.
Looking to the Future
Numerous reports show that cancer is inarguably on the rise, and it will be for the foreseeable future. Several factors could be responsible for this trend and its predicted perseverance. It’s certainly true that new cancer treatments have been developed in recent years, many of which are effective at treating various forms of the disease. Many reports note that the cancer survival rate is increasing thanks to those advancements. Still, with an ever-growing number of people developing cancer, the overall death rates may not see a positive difference during the years to come.