According to current data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), about 49 percent of men and 43 percent of women will be diagnosed with cancer in the course of their lives. Surveys show that around one in six women and one in seven men is affected by this diagnosis before the age of 65.

In 2023, around 517,800 new cancer cases were registered in Germany, according to figures from the RKI. Of these, about 276,400 were men and about 241,400 women. The most common new cases concerned tumors of the prostate (79,600 cases), the mammary gland (75,900), the lungs (58,300) and the colon and rectum (55,300).

Also for 2023, the cause of death statistics and the report "Cancer in Germany" by the German Cancer Registry and the Center for Cancer Registry Data at the RKI published that a total of about 229,000 people died as a result of cancer. Among them were about 123,000 men and about 106,000 women.

On 4 February each year, International World Cancer Day draws attention to these developments. The aim of this day of action is to raise public awareness of the importance of prevention, early detection and improved 

treatment options and to strengthen measures against cancer.

A worrying trend can be seen in the increasing number of cancer cases among younger adults. Tumor diseases are increasingly occurring before the age of 50 – a pattern that international studies in several regions have shown. Between 1990 and 2019, according to epidemiological data, the number of cancers in people under the age of 50 increased by almost 80 percent worldwide, accompanied by an increase in mortality in this age group by about 28 percent.

Studies from the USA and Europe show that members of the so-called millennial generation (born around 1981–1995) are more often affected by many types of cancer than the directly older generation (baby boomers). This increase is particularly pronounced in colorectal cancer with an increase of around 167 percent, closely followed by thyroid cancer (about 75 percent). Breast cancer is also significantly more common in younger adults in many regions than it was a few decades ago.

In the vast majority of cases, it is not genetic factors that are in the foreground, but external influences. Experts estimate that around 80 percent of all cancers are not genetically determined, but are favored by lifestyle habits and environmental factors. The most significant risk factors include:

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Diet and overweight
Unhealthy diets and obesity are considered central cancer risk factors. Excessive body weight in childhood promotes inflammatory processes, hormonal changes and insulin resistance, which increases the risk of colorectal, breast and uterine cancer in the long term. Highly processed foods reduce the diversity of the intestinal flora and can promote inflammatory metabolic pathways – an additional risk factor for tumor formation.

Alcohol consumption
Alcohol is scientifically considered a proven carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies ethanol in group 1 – the highest risk class – because the degradation product acetaldehyde produced in the body damages the genetic material and can thus contribute to the development of cancer. In particular, repeated binge drinking is associated with a higher risk. In addition, recent studies indicate that certain chemical impurities in alcoholic beverages pose additional health risks.

Lack of sleep and circadian disorders
Chronic lack of sleep, as it is common among younger generations due to intensive use of digital media into the night, affects hormonal control circuits and the body's DNA repair capacity. In particular, the decreasing melatonin level, a hormone with antioxidant and anticancer properties, is discussed as a factor for increased tumor susceptibility.

Stress and psychosocial stress
Prolonged stress leads to permanently elevated cortisol levels, which can indirectly increase the risk of cancer through metabolic changes, inflammatory processes and a weakening of the immune system. Chronic stress can also limit the immune system's ability to recognize and eliminate malignant cells.

Long-term
use of certain medicines such as painkillers or stomach acid blockers is associated with health problems and is increasingly being discussed in research in the context of cancer risks. Hormonal contraceptives, on the other hand, have a complex risk profile: they can slightly increase the risk of certain types of cancer, but at the same time protect against other forms of tumor.

The incidence of cancer in Germany remains high, and the disease is increasingly affecting younger adults. In addition to genetic factors, lifestyle, environmental pollution and chronic physical stress contribute significantly to this. World Cancer Day on 4 February is a reminder of the importance of prevention, healthy lifestyles and early diagnosis in the fight against cancer.

Author: Tom Weyermann / MF Redaktion
Sources: rki.de, krebsdaten.de, krebsinformationsdienst.de