Cancer care for women

Research

Roundup: Report Cites Rising Number of Cancer Cases in Women Under 50; and More News

Rising Cancer Rates Among Young Women: What You Need to Know

The latest report from the American Cancer Society (ACS) reveals some concerning trends in cancer incidence, particularly among young women. While there have been major advances in cancer treatments and a decline in overall cancer death rates in the U.S., a rising number of cancer diagnoses in younger women signals a growing shift over the past two decades.

The ACS’s Cancer Statistics, 2025 report finds that cancer cases are on the rise among women under 50, with the incidence rate now 82 percent higher in women than in men, compared to 51 percent in 2002.

This trend is not limited to a specific type of cancer. Lung cancer, for example, is now diagnosed more often in women than in men under the age of 65. These findings represent a significant reversal of the previous trends where cancer was more common in men.

The increase in cancer diagnoses among younger women is not just a statistical anomaly. It brings with it broader societal concerns, as women are often primary caregivers in families, the ACS states.. The burden of illness among this group could disrupt families and communities, adding to the already complex challenges posed by cancer care.

Key Findings from the Report

In 2025, it is expected that there will be more than 2 million new cancer diagnoses in the U.S. and more than 600,000 cancer-related deaths.

While cancer mortality has decreased by 34 percent since 1991, largely due to improvements in smoking cessation, early detection, and treatments, the rise in cancer incidence has raised alarms. The ACS report points out several other key findings, including:

  • Pancreatic cancer continues to be a major concern, with both incidence and mortality rates rising. The survival rate for pancreatic cancer remains critically low at just 8 percent, underscoring the need for greater research and better treatments.
  • Cancer mortality rates are increasing for certain cancers, including oral, pancreatic, uterine, and liver cancers in women. The impact of these rising rates may disproportionately affect younger women, given the trend of shifting cancer burdens.
  • Increased incidence in certain cancers: Rates for breast cancer (female), prostate cancer, and uterine corpus cancer have been climbing steadily, along with melanoma and liver cancer among women.
  • Disparities in cancer care: The report also highlights persistent inequalities in cancer mortality across racial and ethnic groups. Native American populations, for example, have cancer death rates 2-3 times higher than white populations for certain cancers. “Black people are twice as likely to die of prostate, stomach, and uterine corpus cancers compared to White people and 50% more likely to die from cervical cancer, which is preventable,” states the ACS.

The exact reasons behind the rising cancer rates in young women remain unclear, but experts point to several contributing factors. Changes in lifestyle, including diet and physical activity, as well as environmental factors, might be playing a role. Additionally, earlier exposure to harmful substances like tobacco and alcohol, along with genetic predispositions, could explain some of the uptick in younger women.

One significant trend is the increased incidence of lung cancer in women under 65, which is now more prevalent than in men of the same age group. This shift could be related to changes in smoking habits over the years, as more women have started smoking, and the long-term effects of this are now being felt.

The ACS stresses that early detection remains one of the most effective tools in fighting cancer, which is why it’s critical to expand access to screening programs—particularly for underserved populations. 

Miami Cancer Institute  and Lynn Cancer Institute and are integrating their programs as part of Baptist Health South Florida’s expanding cancer care services.

NIH Study on How Aging Affects Different Brain Cells May Lead to New Treatments

A new study has uncovered insights into how aging affects the brain at a cellular level. For the first time, scientists have mapped out how different types of brain cells age, showing that some cells are more vulnerable to age-related changes than others.

These findings, published in Nature, could open new doors for developing treatments for age-related brain diseases such as Alzheimer's. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

While previous research has shown that aging affects the brain’s neurons — the cells that form neural circuits — this new study takes a closer look at the genetic activity of individual brain cells to uncover more subtle changes. Researchers from the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle used cutting-edge technology to study more than 1.2 million brain cells in both young (2-month-old) and aged (18-month-old) mice. They focused on cells from 16 different brain regions, encompassing about 35% of the brain’s total volume.

The results confirmed a trend observed in earlier studies: as animals age, there’s a decline in the activity of genes linked to neurons and other key brain cells, like astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. These cells are crucial for supporting brain function by maintaining the chemical environment and insulating nerve fibers. In contrast, aging seemed to ramp up the activity of genes related to inflammation and the immune system, as well as those controlling blood vessel cells in the brain.

One of the most striking discoveries from the study is that certain cells appear to be especially sensitive to aging. The researchers pinpointed a small group of hormone-producing cells, particularly those near the third ventricle in the brain, which had significant changes in genetic activity with age. This area includes neurons in the hypothalamus, a region of the brain responsible for regulating vital functions such as hunger, sleep, and body temperature.

These hormone-producing cells are also known to control metabolism and energy balance, processes closely linked to aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

The implications of these findings are significant. The fact that certain cells, particularly those in the hypothalamus, are more sensitive to aging suggests they could play a significant role in brain disorders such as Alzheimer's, which is strongly linked to age.

According to Richard J. Hodes,M.D., director of NIH's National Institute on Aging, "This new map of aging brain cells provides a clearer picture of which cells may be most affected by the aging process and offers a roadmap for potential treatments."

This study highlights the power of modern brain mapping tools, made possible by the NIH's Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® (BRAIN) Initiative.

COVID Infection Raises Risk of Being Diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

New research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found a link between COVID-19 infection and an increased risk of developing myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) – a condition commonly known as just chronic fatigue syndrome.

The study, part of NIH's ongoing Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) initiative, found that individuals who contracted COVID-19 were significantly more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS -- compared to those who had not been infected by the virus.

The research team, led by Suzanne D. Vernon, M.D., at the Bateman Horne Center in Salt Lake City, analyzed data from over 13,000 adults. Of these, 11,785 had been infected with COVID-19, and 1,439 had not. Among the post-COVID group, 4.5 percent met the clinical diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS, compared to just 0.6 percent in the non-infected group.

These results indicate that new cases of ME/CFS are occurring at rates 15 times higher than pre-pandemic levels. Post-exertional malaise, orthostatic intolerance, and cognitive impairment were the most commonly reported symptoms among those in the infected group.

ME/CFS is a debilitating, chronic condition often triggered by an infection. Individuals with ME/CFS experience severe fatigue that lasts for at least six months, along with other symptoms like post-exertional malaise (a worsening of symptoms after physical or mental activity), unrefreshing sleep, cognitive difficulties, and orthostatic intolerance (dizziness when standing). While ME/CFS can occur after various viral infections, the new study suggests that COVID-19 may be a particularly strong trigger.

ME/CFS shares several symptoms with Long COVID, a condition where individuals experience prolonged illness following a COVID-19 infection. Long COVID can affect multiple organ systems, and its symptoms often include fatigue, cognitive challenges, and muscle pain—similar to those of ME/CFS.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence that infection with COVID-19 can lead to chronic, long-lasting health issues. As more people experience the lingering effects of COVID-19, the need for research into conditions like ME/CFS has never been more urgent, researchers state.

“More research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms of why some people are more likely to develop ME/CFS following infection than others,” states the NIH in a news release on the new study.

Healthcare that Cares

With internationally renowned centers of excellence, 12 hospitals, more than 28,000 employees, 4,500 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties, Baptist Health is an anchor institution of the South Florida communities we serve.

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