2023-10-18 06:00:03
Par Ashleigh Hamilton, Queen’s University Belfast
Cancer is often thought to be a disease that affects older people. But worrying new research shows that cancer in younger people is a growing problem. According to one recent studyover the past thirty years, the number of people under the age of 50 diagnosed with cancer has increased by approximately 80%.
Breast cancer was the most common early-onset cancer in 2019.
Juice Flair/ Shutterstock
The type of cancers detected in younger adults is also a cause for concern. Indeed, if we are to believe this study but also older research work, we are observing in younger subjects a resurgence of cancers that were until now considered specific to older groups. These include cancers of the intestineof the stomachof beof the uterus a you pancreas.
These data are concerning because some of these cancers, particularly cancers of the pancreas and of the stomach, are characterized by a low survival rate. This is because these cancers are often diagnosed at a late stage. Research has also shown that bowel cancer (this is cancer of the large intestine also called Colon Cancer or colorectal, editor’s note) tends to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage in young adults, compared to older subjects.
While it is clear from this study that cancer is increasingly common among adults under the age of 50, experts are uncertain regarding the causes of this increase.
Early onset cancers
The study looked at cases of cancer in people aged under 50 (we can use the term “early onset cancers”) in 204 countries and regions around the world. The data analyzed was collected between 1990 and 2019. The researchers wanted to know not only the incidence of early-onset cancers, but also the types of cancers most common among those under 50 years old.
They found that in 2019, 3.26 million cases of early-onset cancers were diagnosed worldwide, an increase of 79% since 1990. The authors also predicted that by 2030, the number of people under 50 diagnosed with cancer would increase by another 31%.
Breast cancer was the most common early-onset cancer in 2019. But it is the incidence of prostate and throat cancers that has increased the fastest since 1990. Liver cancer is, as for him, the one which decreased the fastest during the same period.
The number of deaths from early-onset cancers also increased between 1990 and 2019, but less rapidly than the diagnosis rate. The number of deaths nevertheless reached 1.06 million worldwide in 2019, an increase of 28%. The cancers causing the highest number of deaths in 2019 were breast, lung, intestinal and stomach cancers. The age group most at risk of early cancer is those in their forties.
It is in your forties that the risk of developing so-called early-onset cancer is highest.
Shutterstock
In 2019, early-onset breast cancer had the greatest impact on women, while early-onset lung cancer had the greatest impact on men. Women have been disproportionately affected by early-onset cancers, in terms of death and poorer health, in low- and middle-income countries.
The study also shows that while developed countries such as Western Europe, North America and Australasia count the highest number of cases of early-onset cancers, many cases have also been observed in low- and middle-income countries. Mortality rates were also higher in low- and middle-income countries.
The main limitation of this publication is the variability of the data collected in different countries, which makes it difficult to evaluate them comprehensively. This scientific article nonetheless remains useful for establishing a snapshot of population health at the global level.
Unknown causes
There is no single explanation for the increase in the number of cancers among people under 50. Some cancers that occur in young adults have a genetic origin (Genetics (from the Greek genno γεννώ = to give birth) is…). But this only represents a small number of cases (around 20%).
Lifestyle factors, such as the foods we eat, alcohol or tobacco use, and being overweight, are all associated with an increased risk of many types of cancer. According to research data, these factors may contribute to the increase in the number of early colorectal cancers, for example. It is not known whether this is also the case for other types of early-onset cancers.
Some people with early-onset cancer can lead a healthy lifestyle. This suggests that there are probably other causes, which have not yet been identified, to explain the increase in cancers in adults under 50 years of age.
This research clearly shows that the cancer landscape is changing. Although the incidence of early-onset cancers is increasing, cancer in this age group remains much less common than among those over 50. Early-onset cancers only account for around a tenth of new cases in the UK. But even if these figures are still relatively low, this does not mean that the trend observed is not worrying.
(For France, the Public Health France agency took stock of the incidence of the main cancers in mainland France in 2023 and trends since 1990. In women, the “all cancers” incidence rate has been increasing continuously since 1990. This is particularly the case for lung and breast cancers. In men, on the other hand, following an increase between 1990 and 2006 and a decrease between 2006 and 2012, this rate seems to have stabilized since 2012. But the agency does not focus on cancers which occur in adults under 50 years old, editor’s note).
It is now essential to ensure that there is greater awareness of early-onset cancers. Most young adults, and even health professionals, do not think of cancer first when symptoms appear. It is important to consult your GP when symptoms occur, as detecting cancer at an early stage provides a better prognosis.
There is also an urgent need for research into early-onset cancers at the national and international level. The underlying causes are likely different depending on gender, ethnicity and location.
On an individual level, there are many things you can do to reduce your risk of developing cancer. It is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle. This includes a healthy diet, stopping smoking, practicing regular physical activity, reducing consumption alcohol, protection once morest the sun and maintaining a correct weight. If you feel unwell in your body or if symptoms occur, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible.
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