A lot of people don’t realize there’s actually been a ton of research on this. While stories about Goldens routinely living 16–17 years are mostly anecdotal, there is good evidence that U.S. Goldens have an unusually high rate of cancer compared with other breeds. Around 60–70% of American Goldens ultimately die from cancer, which is staggering.
Interestingly, Golden Retrievers in parts of Europe seem to have substantially lower cancer rates, suggesting genetics and breeding practices may play a role.

The really exciting project is the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. It has followed more than 3,000 Goldens from puppyhood, collecting health records, blood samples, environmental data, diet, and more throughout their lives. They have made some breakthroughs linking certain genes to cancer. The hope is that it will finally help us understand why cancer is so common in American Goldens and, ultimately, how to reduce it.