Audio long read: Why are so many young people getting cancer? What the data say
Apr 5, 2024
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Exploring the alarming increase in early-onset cancer cases among adults under 50 globally, researchers are searching for answers beyond the usual suspects like obesity and early screening. Chapters delve into disparities in colorectal cancer, genetic, immune, and microbiome factors in young patients, and challenges in understanding rising cancer rates in South Korea and Japan.
Rates of early-onset cancers are rising globally, with unclear causes beyond typical contributors like obesity and early screening.
Researchers are exploring genetic factors and gut microbiome composition to unravel the complex reasons behind the surge in early-onset cancers.
Deep dives
Rising Rates of Early Onset Cancers
Researchers globally are observing an alarming increase in early onset cancer cases, particularly among adults under 50. In the United States, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in men under 50 and the second leading cause in young women.
Factors Contributing to the Increase
Despite efforts to identify causes such as rising obesity rates and improved early screening, the surge in early onset cancers remains largely unexplained. Researchers are exploring factors like gut microbiome composition and genetic clues in tumors to unravel the complex reasons behind the rise.
Challenges and Future Directions
The shift towards younger demographic groups in cancer incidence has spurred calls for earlier screening efforts. However, barriers such as accessibility to screening facilities pose challenges, especially in remote areas. Efforts to gather long-term data and international collaboration are crucial to better understand and combat early onset cancers.
Around the world, rates of cancers that typically affect older adults are increasing in those under 50 years old. Models based on global data predict that the number of early-onset cancer cases like these will increase by around 30% between 2019 and 2030.
The most likely contributors — such as rising rates of obesity and early-cancer screening — do not fully account for the increase. To try and understand the reasons behind this trend, many researchers are searching for answers buried in studies that tracked the lives and health of children born half a century ago.