Cancer Rates Among Young Adults Increase Globally, Study Reveals
A new study, conducted by the University of Edinburgh and Zhejiang University School of Medicine, has found that the number of young adults diagnosed with cancer has risen by nearly 80% in the past three decades. The research, which examined data from 204 countries, revealed that global cases of early onset cancer increased from 1.82 million in 1990 to 3.26 million in 2019. Furthermore, cancer-related deaths among adults under the age of 50 grew by 27%, with over a million young adults dying from cancer each year.
The study highlighted poor diets, alcohol and tobacco use, physical inactivity, and obesity as possible contributing factors to the rise in cancer cases among young adults. The authors of the study emphasized the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, limiting tobacco and alcohol consumption, and engaging in regular physical activity, in order to reduce the burden of early onset cancer.
Previous studies have also indicated an increase in cancer rates among young adults. However, this global study is the first of its kind to examine the issue on such a large scale and identify the risk factors specific to younger adults. The highest rates of early onset cancers were found in North America, Oceania, and western Europe, while low- and middle-income countries were also significantly affected.
Breast cancer accounted for the largest number of cases and deaths among young adults, followed by windpipe, lung, stomach, and bowel cancers. The study further revealed that cases of early onset windpipe and prostate cancers saw the fastest increase between 1990 and 2019, while cases of early onset liver cancer decreased.
In terms of deaths, the steepest increases were observed among individuals with kidney or ovarian cancer. The study also noted that in low- and middle-income countries, early onset cancer had a greater impact on women in terms of poor health and mortality rates.
Based on the observed trends, the researchers predict that the number of new early onset cancer cases and associated deaths will rise by an additional 31% and 21%, respectively, by 2030. Factors such as genetic predisposition, poor diet, alcohol and tobacco use, physical inactivity, excess weight, and high blood sugar are believed to contribute to the development of cancer among young adults.
Dr. Claire Knight, a senior health information manager at Cancer Research UK, expressed caution and highlighted the importance of further research to understand the causes of early onset cancer. She emphasized that while the increase in cancer rates among young adults is alarming, the majority of new cancer cases still occur in individuals aged 50 and older. Dr. Knight also suggested adopting a healthy lifestyle, including measures such as not smoking, maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, and protecting oneself from excessive sun exposure, as ways to reduce cancer risk.
As the number of young adults diagnosed with cancer continues to rise, it is crucial to prioritize research, prevention, and early detection efforts in order to address this growing public health concern.