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.
Deaths were also up by 27.7 per cent.
They had cancer during Covid-19 – and turned to one another for support
The researchers said that, while genetics are likely to play a part, smoking, alcohol consumption and diets high in meat and salt are the “main risk factors”, along with factors such as excess weight, low physical activity and high blood sugar.
These risks can be reduced significantly through lifestyle changes: not smoking or drinking alcohol; eating less meat, salt and processed sugar, and having more vegetables and fruit; achieving and maintaining a healthy weight; and exercising regularly.
Breast cancer made up the largest proportion of cases – 13.7 per every 100,000 people – while windpipe and prostate cancer cases are growing the fastest, at 2.28 per cent and 2.23 per cent per year, respectively.
While the findings might seem alarming, said Claire Knight, senior health information manager at the charity Cancer Research UK, cancer remains “primarily a disease of older age”.
Publication of the study in the journal BMJ Oncology comes after Cancer Research UK claimed advances in cancer care had helped save 1.2 million lives in the UK since the mid-1980s.
The figure includes an estimated 560,000 fewer lung cancer deaths, 236,000 deaths from stomach cancer, 224,000 fewer bowel cancer deaths and 17,000 fewer breast cancer deaths.
The charity said the improvement was down to progress in cancer prevention, as well as diagnosis and treatment, including improvements in radiotherapy, the use of cancer screening programmes, drug development and gene discoveries.
High survival rate for breast cancer patients diagnosed early: Hong Kong study
The earlier cancer is detected, generally, the more easy it is to treat. The American Cancer Society suggests staying alert to these potential symptoms of the disease:
C: Change in bowel or bladder habits;
A: A sore that does not heal;
U: Unusual bleeding or discharge;
T: Thickening or lump in the breast or elsewhere;
I: Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing;
O: Obvious change in a wart or mole; and
N: Nagging cough or hoarseness.
Knight said: “It’s not fully clear what is driving the rise in early-onset cancers, but exposure to risk factors in earlier life, better detection of cancer, and genetics might all play a part.”
She added: “If people are concerned about their cancer risk, there are lots of ways to help reduce this, such as not smoking, maintaining a balanced diet, getting plenty of exercise and staying safe in the sun.”
The regions with the highest rates of early-onset cancers were North America, Australasia and Western Europe. The more developed the country, the more likely it was to have a higher rate of under-50s diagnosed with cancer, the study found.
This could suggest that wealthier countries with better healthcare systems catch cancer earlier, but only a few nations screen for certain cancers in people under 50, it added.
An editorial that accompanied the study said it “serves as a warning for future burden on healthcare systems, which are still recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic”.
It added that targeted early detection measures should be considered for the age group most affected, 40 to 49 years, “including the potential expansion of screening”.
Additional reporting by staff reporter
