Incidence, mortality, and cumulative risk of cancer in adolescents and young adults in Switzerland

Sep 22, 2026

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Cancer in adolescents and young adults (AYAs, ages 15–39) shows distinct patterns in cancer types and distribution. This nationwide study in Switzerland quantified incidence, mortality, and cumulative risk by combining adolescent data (15–19) from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry with young-adult data (20–39) from the National Agency for Cancer Registration. Age-standardized rates were calculated with adjustment for incomplete regional coverage, and joinpoint regression assessed temporal trends. Between 1980 and 2019, 44,048 cancers were recorded; adjusting for coverage estimated 69,901 cancers. Incidence increased and mortality decreased from 1980–1989 to 2010–2019, underscoring the need for ongoing surveillance and prevention for AYAs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages19

Reading Time48 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Methods and data sources

Results: incidence trends

Results: mortality trends

Conclusions and implications

European Journal of Epidemiology (2026) 41:459–477 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-026-01363-9](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-026-01363-9) CANCER Incidence, mortality, and cumulative risk of cancer in adolescents and young adults in Switzerland Céline Bolliger1 · Eleftheria Michalopoulou2,7 · Christian Kreis2 · Matthias Lorez3 · Christina Schindera2,4 · Benjamin Kasenda5 · Claudia E. Kuehni2,6,7 · Daniela Dyntar7 · Katharina Roser1 · Ben D. Spycher2,7 Received: 10 July 2025 / Accepted: 8 January 2026 / Published online: 21 February 2026 © The Author(s) 2026 Abstract Cancers in adolescents and young adults (AYAs, aged 15–39 years) have distinct features and distribution of cancer types. This study investigated incidence, mortality, and cumulative risk ofAYA cancers in Switzerland. Data on adolescent cancers (15–19 years; Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry) and young adult cancers (20–39 years; National Agency for Cancer Registration) were combined. We calculated age-standardized incidence and mortality rates, and accounted for incomplete regional coverage of cancer registration. We used joinpoint regression to investigate cancer incidence and mortality trendsand estimate average annual percent changes. We included 44,048 cancers recorded between 1980 and 2019 and, after adjusting for incomplete coverage, we estimated a total of 69,901 cancers. Cancer incidence increased from 56.6 [95% confidence interval: 55.3, 58.0] per 100,000 person-years in 1980–1989 to 72.2 [71.1, 73.3] in 2010–2019, with a steeper increase for females. The most common cancers were carcinomas, mainly of the breast (9,629 cancers estimated), gastrointestinal tract (5,033) and thyroid (4,785), gonadal and related tumors (11,303), melanomas (9,695), and lymphomas (8,208). There were 9,865 AYA cancer deaths recorded over the study period. The age-standardized mortality rate declined from 13.3 [12.8, 13.7] per 100,000 person-years in 1980–1989 to 6.2 [5.9, 6.5] in 2010–2019, showing similar decreases in both sexes. This first comprehensive, nationwide study ofAYA cancers in Switzerland showed increasing incidence and declining mortality, potentially due to changes in lifestyle or improved cancer registration and screening practices. Our results emphasize the need for ongoing surveillance and preventive strategies with a focus on AYAs. Keywords Adolescent and young adult cancer · Cancer epidemiology · Incidence · Mortality · Cumulative risk · Switzerland | Katharina Roser and Ben D. Spycher shared last authorship to this work. | | --- | | Deceased: Daniela Dyntar. | 􀀍 Ben D. Spycher ben.spycher@unibe.ch 1 Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland 2 Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland 3 National Institute for Cancer Epidemiology and Registration (NICER), Zurich, Switzerland 4 Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland 5 Department of Medical Oncology, University and University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland 6 Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland 7 Childhood Cancer Registry, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland Abbreviations AAPC Average annual percent change AIDS Acquired immune deficiency syndrome AYAs Adolescents and young adults CCR Cantonal cancer registries ChCR Childhood Cancer Registry CIs Confidence intervals CNS Central nervous system FSO Swiss Federal Statistical Office HAART Highly active antiretroviral therapy HIV Human immunodeficiency virus HPV Human papillomavirus ICD International Statistical Classification of Dis eases and Related Health Problems ICD-O International Classification of Diseases for Oncology NCI National Cancer Institute NIH National Institutes of Health

FAQs

How were incidence and mortality data for adolescents and young adults combined in Switzerland?

Adolescent data (15–19) came from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry and young adult data (20–39) from the National Agency for Cancer Registration. The two datasets were combined for analyses covering the AYA age range.

What statistical approach was used to analyze trends over time?

Joinpoint regression was used to study incidence and mortality trends and to estimate average annual percent changes.

What main trends were observed for AYA cancer incidence and mortality between 1980–1989 and 2010–2019?

Age-standardized incidence increased, with a steeper rise for females. Age-standardized mortality declined similarly in both sexes.

Sep 22, 2026

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