Cancer research: 80% rise in cases in younger people highlights need for lifestyle changes, and increased early screening, study authors say
- Global cancer cases among people aged 14 to 49 rose by nearly 80 per cent, to 3.26 million, from 1990 to 2019, researchers from China and the UK say
- There are 7 signs of cancer to look out for; modifiable lifestyle factors – smoking, alcohol consumption and unhealthy diets – are among the main risk factors
A rise in global cancer cases among younger people should serve as a wake-up call for people of all ages to rethink their lifestyle choices, and be aware of signs that might alert them to the disease in its early stages, experts say.
A new study estimated there had been a 79 per cent increase in new cases of cancer in those aged under 50 between 1990 and 2019. It predicted that cancer cases in under-50s would rise by a further 31 per cent by 2030, mostly among people aged 40 to 49.
A team from the University of Edinburgh and the Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China analysed data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 Study for 29 cancers in 204 countries and regions.
They looked at new cases, deaths, health consequences and risk factors in people aged 14 to 49, estimating an annual percentage for each year.
In 2019, there were 3.26 million new cancer diagnoses for under-50s, an increase of 79.1 per cent since 1990.