The latest annual report on cancer in the United States is a combination of good news and concern. While overall death rates from cancer continue to decline, an unexpected and troubling trend is emerging — more women are being diagnosed with cancer every year.

Published on April 21, 2025, in the journal Cancer, the 2024 Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer presents a complex image of progress and disparity. A collaborative effort of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Cancer Society (ACS), and North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR), the report provides a complete picture of U.S. cancer incidence and death trends between 2001 and 2022.

One of the brightest findings in the report is that cancer mortality rates have been falling steadily for men and women since 2001. The decline continued even in the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The American Cancer Society credits this decline to a 32% reduction in cancer death rates between 1991 and 2019. This has meant an estimated 3.5 million deaths from cancer prevented, thanks to earlier diagnosis, changes in lifestyle, and medical advances.

Clerk of court records show this progress has included the decline of lung cancer death — one of the major factors in cancer-related deaths. The mortality rates among other smoking-associated cancers have significantly decreased as a direct result of declining smoking incidence over the years.

Better screening procedures have had a significant bearing on lowering death due to cancer. For instance:

Mortality from colorectal cancer has fallen by 52% in adults aged 50–75 years, largely as a result of regular screening.

Deaths from breast cancer have fallen by some 40% since the use of mammography became more common.

These results highlight the effectiveness of early diagnosis in enhancing survival and reducing disease burden.

Prevention Through Lifestyle Changes

As treatment advances are making front-page news, the report insists on the critical importance of prevention. Anti-smoking campaigns have dramatically reduced prevalence from more than 40% in the 1960s to only 14% nowadays, leading to important declines in tobacco-related cancers.

Public health initiatives urging healthier eating, more exercise, and weight control have also played a role in reducing risk. Remarkably, as many as 40% of cancers have been estimated to be preventable by such changes in lifestyle.

Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Care

The report isn't afraid of the pandemic disruption to healthcare services. Cancer rates fell significantly in 2020, not as a result of genuine falls in disease but as a result of postponements in screening and diagnosis. By 2021, figures bounced back, suggesting that normal healthcare access resumed.

This volatility unearthed the compelling necessity for unwavering continuity of access to cancer care during even public health emergencies. The states exhibited uniform trends in the 2020 decline, apart from differing policy responses to COVID-19.

Why More Women Are Getting Diagnosed?

Even with the encouraging news on cancer mortality, concerning is the fact that cancer incidence in women has been increasing steadily. Between 2003 and 2021, the number of new cases in women ticked up slightly each year — except for a temporary decrease in 2020, when it happened during the pandemic. A number of explanations are probably to blame:

1. Obesity-Related Cancers Are on the Rise

The report identifies an increasing number of cancers associated with obesity, many of which disproportionately affect women. These include:

• Breast cancer in women
• Uterine (endometrial) cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Colon and rectal cancer
• Kidney and liver cancers

Rates of obesity have been consistently rising in the U.S., and women tend to experience distinctive metabolic and hormonal alterations (e.g., post-menopause) that can make them more susceptible to these cancers.

2. Enhanced Screening and Awareness

In part, the increase may be an artifact of better screening and female health awareness. More detection of early-stage cancer such as breast and cervical cancer — particularly in women who receive regular healthcare — is a healthy trend, albeit one that can temporarily boost incidence rates.

3. Environmental and Hormonal Factors

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, hormone replacement therapy, and chronic exposure to estrogen (resulting from delayed childbearing or lower pregnancy rates) can cause elevated risk for specific cancers in women, such as breast and uterine cancer.

4. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cancer Diagnosis

The report points out that American Indian and Alaska Native women now have the highest cancer rate among all racial and ethnic female populations. This may be attributed to various factors — such as limited access to preventive care, socioeconomic challenges, environmental exposure, and genetic susceptibility.

Is There A Gender Disparities in Cancer Care?

The growing incidence of cancer among women underscores the necessity for gendered approaches to cancer prevention. While deaths are declining — a testament to progress — further action must be taken to:

• Combat the epidemic of obesity
• Provide access to early detection and treatment for all
• Target special hormonal and environmental risk factors in women

Healthcare systems need to respond to this changing environment with a comprehensive, integrated, and preventive strategy for cancer control that involves women from all walks of life.

The 2024 Annual Report on Cancer presents a reassuring vision of gradual reductions in cancer deaths due to decades of research, public health efforts, and medical progress. Yet the simultaneous increase in cancer incidence among women requires closer scrutiny.

Did you know that among the 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease, nearly two-thirds are women? This means women are almost twice as likely as men to develop the condition. While longer life expectancy partly explains the difference, research shows that hormonal changes after menopause, genetic factors, and certain lifestyle patterns also increase risk.

As a result, understanding the early warning signs and taking preventive steps is especially important for women, who face a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s as they age.

Women and Alzheimer’s: Why The Risk Is Higher

Dr. Brij Lal Choudhary, Consultant Neurologist at Manipal Hospital, Jaipur, points out that Alzheimer’s is often seen as a condition of old age, but women are disproportionately affected. Nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients are women, making it almost twice as common in women compared to men. While longer life expectancy plays a role, other factors, such as hormonal changes after menopause, genetic predisposition, and lifestyle patterns also increase risk.

Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Women Should Watch

Memory loss: Forgetting recent events, appointments, or familiar names, with lapses gradually worsening.

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• Difficulty managing tasks or problem-solving: Struggling with daily responsibilities, finances, or planning may indicate cognitive changes.
• Confusion: Feeling disoriented over simple or familiar activities.
• Mood or personality changes: Sudden anxiety, frequent irritability, or withdrawing from social life.
• Language difficulties: Trouble finding the right words or expressing thoughts clearly.

Increased Risk of Alzheimer's in WomenStudies consistently show that women are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to men. For instance, a Swedish study involving 16,926 participants found that, starting around age 80, women were more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's than men of the same age. Similarly, research in Taiwan indicated that over a seven-year period, women had a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer's compared to men. A European meta-analysis revealed that approximately 13 women out of 1,000 developed Alzheimer's each year, compared to only seven men, as per Harvard Health Publishing.

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While the longer life expectancy of women contributes to this disparity, it doesn't fully explain the difference. Even among individuals of the same age, women are more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's than men. This suggests that factors beyond longevity, such as hormonal changes, genetic predispositions, and immune system differences, may play significant roles in the increased risk for women.

How to Reduce Risk and Protect Cognitive HealthAlthough Alzheimer’s cannot be reversed, several steps can help lower risk and support brain health:

• Regular cognitive screenings to monitor changes over time.
• Mental stimulation through reading, puzzles, or learning new skills.
• Physical exercise to improve blood flow and overall health.
• Managing blood pressure and blood sugar to reduce vascular-related risks.

We all experience occasional forgetfulness or feel a bit scatterbrained from time to time, often attributing it to stress, a busy lifestyle, or simply getting older. However, repeated lapses in memory, confusion, or difficulty performing everyday tasks can sometimes signal the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Recognising these warning signs early is crucial, as timely awareness and intervention can help manage the condition more effectively and improve quality of life.

As we observe World Alzheimer’s Day 2025, it’s the perfect moment to learn about Alzheimer’s, understand its early indicators, and know what experts recommend paying attention to.

What Is Alzheimer’s?

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For most people, symptoms first appear in their mid-60s, according to the National Institute on Aging. Current estimates indicate that over 6 million Americans aged 65 and older may be living with Alzheimer’s. Age remains the greatest known risk factor, and with the population aging, the number of cases is expected to rise.

Stages of Alzheimer’sAlzheimer’s disease progresses gradually, with symptoms worsening over time. It is generally divided into three stages: early (mild), middle (moderate), and late (severe). In the early stage, memory lapses and confusion begin to interfere with daily life. During the middle stage, challenges with language, reasoning, and daily activities become more pronounced. In the late stage, individuals may lose the ability to communicate, require full-time care, and become highly dependent on others. Understanding the stages helps families and caregivers plan support and interventions more effectively.

Alzheimer’s vs Dementia

Early Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

• Persistent Memory Loss: Forgetting recent conversations, events, or important dates more often than usual, affecting daily life.
• Difficulty in Planning or Problem-Solving: Challenges with tasks like handling finances, following recipes, or keeping track of everyday responsibilities.
• Impairment of Spatial Memory: Forgetting familiar routes or even one’s way back home.
• Changes in Mood or Personality: Increased irritability, withdrawal from social activities, or unexpected anxiety and depression.

Blood pressure monitoring plays a key role in managing hypertension. For patients whose numbers are well controlled through lifestyle changes or medication, the question often arises: how often should they be checking at home? While regular monitoring helps track progress and detect changes early, checking too frequently can increase stress or lead to unnecessary worry. On the other hand, checking too infrequently may delay important adjustments in treatment. Below, we take a look at how much frequency is important to check your blood pressure.

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring: How Often To Track Your Readings

When you have controlled hypertension, checking your readings at home with a validated monitor is important but doing it properly matters just as much. The CDC and American Heart Association recommend measuring at the same times each day, usually once in the morning and once in the evening. Take at least two readings, spaced 1-2 minutes apart, then average them.

Avoid caffeine, smoking, or exercise in the 30 minutes before taking a reading. Sit quietly for five minutes beforehand, keep your back supported, feet flat on the floor, arm at heart level, cuff on bare skin, and don’t talk during the measurement.

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How many times per week? For people with stable, well-controlled blood pressure, checking 3 to 4 times per week may be sufficient. If just starting home monitoring or adjusting treatment, doctors may ask for readings over a week (3-7 days) to get a clear picture.

What is Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring?

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is a method doctors use to track and understand high blood pressure over an entire day. Hypertension is diagnosed when the upper reading (systolic) is 130 mmHg or higher, or the lower reading (diastolic) is 80 mmHg or higher.

Unlike the usual check-up at a clinic, where a doctor measures your blood pressure once or twice with a cuff, ABPM gives a more complete picture. For this test, you wear a cuff on your arm that’s connected to a small device strapped to your waist or shoulder. The device automatically takes your blood pressure at regular intervals, every 15 to 30 minutes during the day and about once an hour at night, while you carry on with your normal activities, including sleep.

By the end of 24 hours, your doctor has dozens of readings instead of just one or two. This allows them to see your average blood pressure, how it changes throughout the day and night, and whether there are any unusual patterns. The device also records your heart rate, which adds more detail to the overall assessment.

Why Monitoring Matters Even When Blood Pressure Is Controlled?

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Tracking your blood pressure helps detect these patterns early, allowing timely adjustments in treatment and preventing long-term complications such as heart attack, stroke, or kidney damage. According to the American Heart Association, even small, consistent changes in readings over time can provide critical insights for maintaining cardiovascular health.