New research reveals how increasing cancer diagnoses among Gen Z and Millennials are reshaping workforce health, costs and benefit planning.
Younger adults, particularly Gen Z and Millennials under age 50, now account for a growing share of new cancer diagnoses, with implications for workforce health, employer costs and long‑term benefit planning.
Research from the Evernorth Research Institute highlights the growth of new cancers in younger generations and differences in cancer types compared to older generations. These are factors employers should consider when designing coverage, care access and support strategies for working adults.
Insight 1
Rapidly rising cancer diagnosis among younger adults, calls for new care approaches.
Insight 2
Cancer impacts many areas of life for younger adults, demanding a whole-person approach.
Insight 3
Longer cancer journeys are requiring earlier action.
Younger adults account for a small but accelerating share of new cancer diagnoses and exhibit a distinct cancer profile, signaling the need for modernized prevention and care approaches.
More than two million new cancer cases were projected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2025, with a growing share occurring among women, non-Hispanic Blacks and adults under age 501. This younger demographic represents over half of the U.S. workforce, positioning cancer as a critical economic and health concern.
Less common cancers on the rise in young adults.
This trend will continue increasing the cancer burden within the working-age population as generations age. It also presents a growing need for earlier prevention, updated detection methods and benefits that reflect the risks and needs of younger adults.
94%
increase in share of new cancer cases in Gen Z from 2020 to 2024
80%
increase in share of new cancer cases in Millennials from 2020 to 2024
Most common new cancers by generation
| Baby Boomers | Gen X | Millennials | Gen Z | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non-Melanoma Skin | Non-Melanoma Skin | Non-Melanoma Skin | Other Cancers* |
| 2 | Prostate | Breast | Cervical | Endocrine (e.g., thyroid) |
| 3 | Breast | Female Reproductive | Breast | Cervical |
| 4 | Melanoma | Prostate | Melanoma | Non-Melanoma Skin |
| 5 | Other Malignant | Colorectal | Endocrine (e.g., thyroid) | Melanoma |
| 6 | Colorectal | Other Malignant | Other Cancers* | Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma |
| 7 | Female Reproductive | Endocrine (e.g., thyroid) | Other Malignant | Brain/Central Nervous System |
| 8 | Other Cancers* | Other Cancers* | Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma | Other Malignant |
| 9 | Head | Female Reproductive | Female Reproductive | Hodgkin Lymphoma |
| 10 | Gastrointestinal | Cervical | Colorectal | Acute Leukemia |
*Other types of cancers include rarer or atypical malignancies such as sarcomas, bone, germ cell tumors, neuroendocrine tumors and other unusual cancers that occur across multiple low frequency sites. Cancer classification is based on Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) categorizations.
For younger adults, cancer is a whole-person experience that intersects with key life milestones magnifying its impact and underscoring the need for more integrated support models.
Cancer extends well beyond physical health, impacting emotional well-being, social relationships, job performance and financial stability. Younger adults experience both financial strain and support when living with cancer, which can be influenced by the help they have at work, in the community and in their social lives.
Early cancer onset extends care horizons and increases cumulative cost exposure, elevating the need for earlier, more proactive strategies.
This changing landscape has a profound and lasting impact on costs for patients, employers, health plans, care delivery partners and the broader economy.
A cancer diagnosis for a younger patient means more interaction with our healthcare system, shifting expenses from a single occurrence to longer, recurring episodes. Understanding these dynamics is critical to designing benefits and care strategies that improve value while managing long-term financial exposure.
Responding to cancer's growing impact on younger adults
Read our full report to see how employers and plans can take actions to prepare for this shift in oncology care, including:
1
Modernizing prevention and early detection
2
Delivering more integrated, whole-person cancer support
3
Prioritizing evidence-based strategies to reduce costs while maximizing long-term value
References
- American Cancer Society. “Cancer Facts and Figures 2025.” Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2025. Available via https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2025/2025-cancer-facts-and-figures-acs.pdf#:~:text=Excluding%20non-melanoma%20skin%20cancers,%20over%202%20million,and%20deaths,%20respectively,%20in%202025%20by%20state. Accessed February 20, 2026.