Cancer diagnoses double, deaths flat: Experts question treatment.

• Incidence of several cancers in under-50s has doubled since the 1990s, but death rates have not risen proportionally, prompting questions about the necessity of all treatments.
• A JAMA study identified eight fast-rising cancers whose incidence doubled since 1992, yet their death rates remained flat, suggesting overdiagnosis.
• Experts argue that much of the increased cancer incidence, particularly in younger adults, may be due to heightened diagnostic scrutiny and overdiagnosis rather than a rise in clinically meaningful disease.
• Overdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary screening and treatment, potentially causing harm (e.g., infertility, organ damage, debt) and diverting focus from other health threats.
• Examples from Finland and South Korea show widespread screening for thyroid cancer led to soaring diagnoses but no increase in deaths, indicating many treated cases might not have needed intervention.

Why It Matters: Many cancer diagnoses may not require treatment, challenging current practices.