Cancer is becoming markedly more common among younger people, according to an analysis by the World Cancer Research Fund of cancer data from the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The Guardian reported the findings on Tuesday.
Rates are rising at every age, the analysis found, but faster among the young. In the UK seven types of cancer have risen significantly among younger people, in the US five and in the Netherlands four.
In the UK, prostate cancer among men under 50 rose from one per 100,000 in 2001 to 3.6 in 2023. Bowel cancer rose from 3.9 to 8.4 per 100,000 over the same period, and early-onset uterine and kidney cancers doubled. Breast cancer among women under 50 rose from 42 to 47.5 per 100,000, and early-onset pancreatic and liver cancers also increased.
In the US, kidney cancer among under-50s more than doubled, from 2.5 per 100,000 in 2000 to 5.3 in 2023. Bowel, uterine and pancreatic cancers rose by more than 50 percent and breast cancer by about 20 percent. The Netherlands also saw significant rises in early-onset bowel, kidney, liver and cervical cancers.
The World Cancer Research Fund said rising obesity, unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, alcohol, smoking and various pollutants may all play a part. Greater public awareness of symptoms also means the disease is being diagnosed sooner than before, which contributes to the higher rates.
Prothom Alo carried the report, citing The Guardian.
Photo: Patho / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: Prothom Alo
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