New Delhi: A new study from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found that more people under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with cancer. The research, published in the journal Cancer Discovery, looked at data between 2010 and 2019. It showed that 14 out of 33 types of cancer had become more common in at least one younger age group.
Some of the most common cancers with rising cases in younger people include breast cancer in women and colorectal (colon and rectal), kidney, and uterine (womb) cancers. These types of cancer are also becoming more common in older adults, but the increase among younger people is drawing special attention.
Dr. Meredith Shiels, one of the lead researchers from the National Cancer Institute, said the study helps identify which cancers are becoming more frequent in younger adults. She explained that the reasons for the increase may differ depending on the type of cancer. Some possible causes include more people being exposed to cancer risk factors at an earlier age, changes in how cancers are diagnosed, or improvements in cancer screening that catch the disease earlier.
The researchers used data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other national records. They looked at cancer rates across six different age groups and also examined death rates from cancer up until 2022.
Even though many cancers increased in younger people, 19 other types, like lung and prostate cancer, actually became less common. This helped keep the overall cancer rate steady over time.
Among all the rising cancers, breast cancer in women showed the biggest increase. In 2019 alone, there were around 4,800 more cases than expected when compared to 2010 rates. Colorectal, kidney, uterine, and pancreatic cancers also made up over 80% of the extra cases in younger adults.
Experts think that rising obesity rates may be part of the reason for these increases. They also believe that better screening and medical technology may be helping doctors find cancers earlier, especially in people who are at higher risk.