NEW YORK, Oct 6: A report released by the American Cancer Society on Tuesday indicates a concerning trend in breast cancer diagnoses, revealing that while mortality rates from the disease have decreased, the number of new cases is on the rise. This increase is particularly evident among younger women, especially those from Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

According to the report, breast cancer rates rose by 1% annually from 2012 to 2021. However, women under the age of 50 experienced a steeper increase, with rates climbing approximately 1.4% each year. For Asian American and Pacific Islander women under 50, the situation is even more alarming, with breast cancer diagnoses surging by 50% since 2000.

The reasons behind this uptick in breast cancer cases among younger women remain unclear. Dr. Sonya Reid, an oncologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, suggested to NBC News that the rise may be linked to "modifiable risk factors such as environmental exposures in food, air or water, rising rates of obesity, and sedentary lifestyles."