TAMPA, Fla. — The American Cancer Society’s Annual Cancer Facts & Figures Report suggests a decline in cancer deaths, despite more middle-aged women being at risk of developing the disease.

What You Need To Know

  • PDF: American Cancer Society’s annual report

  • Cancer mortality rate declined by 34% from 1991 to 2022

  • Cancer rates in women younger than 50 are now 82% higher than their male counterparts, up from 51% in 2002

  • Lung cancer rates are also higher in women younger than 65 years old compared to men

At 60 years old, Dawn Beemer has battled cancer three different times.

“I was 35 when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer," she said. "I had two small kids — it was scary, scary stuff."

After surgery and radiation, Beemer thought she made it through the scary part. But she says the breast cancer came back at age 56. The retired nurse would be cancer-free two years before being diagnosed with lung cancer.

“It hurt to breathe, it hurt to move,” she said.

The mother of four was treated at Moffitt Cancer Center for her second battle with breast cancer and her lung cancer. She said she didn’t fight it alone.

“Family, God — God is so good to me," she said. "He puts the right people in my path when I need them."

Bemmer said she can relate to research revealing middle-aged women have a higher risk of developing cancer than men.

In the American Cancer Society's Cancer Facts & Figures Report, findings show that cancer rates in women younger than 50 are now 82% higher than men — that’s up from 51% in 2002.

“A lot of those cancers in that demographic of that age group for women is thyroid cancer, breast cancer," said Dr. Matthew Schabath, an epidemiologist at Moffitt Cancer Center. "So, we have great early detection modalities for breast cancer, mammography, tomosynthesis for early detection, and women are more likely to get screened for thyroid cancer.”

The research says when it comes to lung cancer, new diagnosis rates are now higher in women younger than 65 than in men. Schabath has some possible reasons why.

“One is these historical trends with smoking, women were slower to quit smoking back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s,” said Schabath. “So, we saw that women were smoking at higher rates compared to men, and the decline was not as sharp.”

Schabath also said more research is needed to learn more about non-smokers being diagnosed with lung cancer. He added that the research overall helps determine where improvements can be made.

Now, two years cancer-free, Beemer has a message for women facing a cancer diagnosis.

“It’s the memories of the things you used to do and the things that you want to do," she said. "The thought that, 'I want to do this again,' that’ll get you through it. It will."