Changes in cancer incidence in teenagers and young adults (ages 13 to 24 years) in England 1979-2003.
BACKGROUND
Cancer for teenagers and young adults represents a major source of morbidity and mortality. Trends in cancer incidence can provide pointers concerning how changes in the environment and in personal behavior affect cancer risks.


METHODS
Data on 39,129 neoplasms in individuals ages 13 to 24 years who were diagnosed in England from 1979 to 2003 were analyzed. Variability in incidence by time period and differences in the time trends by age group, sex, and geographic region were analyzed using generalized linear models.


RESULTS
Incidence rates of leukemias, lymphomas, central nervous system, bone, and germ cell tumors; melanoma; and carcinomas of the thyroid, ovary, cervix, and colon/rectum increased over time (all P < .01); whereas the incidence of carcinomas of the stomach and bladder decreased (both P < .01). These changes were consistent by age, sex, and region for most neoplasms. Melanoma incidence stabilized in southern England by 1993 but continued to increase in northern England (P = .001). The increase in non-Hodgkin lymphoma was greater in individuals ages 20 to 24 year than in younger individuals, but the increase in Hodgkin lymphoma was confined to individuals ages 13 to 14 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The changes in incidence rates may have been caused in part by environmental changes and in part by behavioral changes in young individuals. Some of these results can be used to inform public health campaigns, which can be constructed to encourage better lifestyle choices by young individuals.
Cancer Research UK Pediatric and Familial Cancer Research Group, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, University of Manchester, Stancliffe, Manchester, United Kingdom. robert.d.alston@manchester.ac.uk
Robert D
RD
Alston
Marco
M
Geraci
Tim O B
TO
Eden
Anthony
A
Moran
Steve
S
Rowan
Jillian M
JM
Birch
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult