The number of young-onset cancer cases worldwide increased from less than 2 million in 1990 to more than 3 million in 2019, and cancer deaths among people in their 30s and 40s increased by 27%. Research shows that more than 1 million people under the age of 50 die from cancer each year.
Yet another study noted that people born in the early 1990s were four times more likely to develop rectal cancer than those born 40 years ago. The study believes this is due to increased sugar intake, particularly sugary drinks.
Shinzo Abe, Chadwick Boseman's intestinal conditions: What you need to know
Shinzo Abe, Chadwick Boseman's intestinal conditions: What you need to know
In particular, colorectal cancer is rapidly increasing. Last year, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reported that 20 percent of all colorectal cancers diagnosed in 2019 were in patients under the age of 55. This means that the diagnosis rate for this particular cancer has doubled since 1995.
According to the ACS 2024 report, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of death for men under 50 and the second leading cause of death for women of the same age (breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women). ) is reported. Twenty years ago, it was her fourth major cause.
By the end of this decade, 10 percent of colon cancers and 22 percent of rectal cancers diagnosed in the United States are expected to occur in patients under age 50, up from 4 percent and 9 percent, respectively, in 2008. Increased has.
Doctors and researchers are trying to understand what is causing this diagnosis to increase among young people.
Millennials, you are old.Why age is catching up with them faster than boomers
Millennials, you are old.Why age is catching up with them faster than boomers
Dr. Ashley Chen Chi-King, clinical director of oncology at CUHK Medical Center, says rising rates of various cancers among people under 50 are not unique to the United States. .
“This is a global phenomenon,” he says. “There is no clear explanation for this trend, and understanding the reasons behind it is one of the top priorities for researchers.”
More cancer screening may explain part of the answer, Chen says — but that's wishful thinking. “Other factors such as an individual's diet, lifestyle, body weight, environmental exposures, and microbiome have also been proposed as potential explanations.”
Chen said there were 38,462 new cancer cases in Hong Kong in 2021, with an average of 105 new cancer diagnoses every day.
The most frequently diagnosed cancers were lung cancer (15.5%), breast cancer (14.5%), prostate cancer (7.9%), liver cancer (4.6%), and colorectal cancer (15.3%).
In other words, these five cancers accounted for nearly 58% of all new diagnoses in Hong Kong.
Give me more peas: Plant-based diet lowers colon cancer risk in men
Give me more peas: Plant-based diet lowers colon cancer risk in men
Physicians at Yale Medicine Colon and Rectal Surgery, part of the clinical practice at Yale University School of Medicine in Connecticut, report that colorectal cancer is diagnosed more frequently among younger patients.
In one week, they diagnosed seven patients with this type of cancer. The oldest was 38 years old, and the youngest was only 18 years old. One person ignored rectal bleeding, thinking it was due to hemorrhoids.
Eat, sleep, feel and exercise the right way to live a long and healthy life
Eat, sleep, feel and exercise the right way to live a long and healthy life
As Chen observes, no one knows exactly why the number of cancers, including colorectal cancer, is increasing among young people.
A 2016 study showed that people who engaged in high levels of physical activity had an almost 20 percent lower risk of colon cancer than those who were inactive.
Many ultra-processed foods, such as canned soups, salami, bacon, and sausage, are high in salt to flavor and preserve food.
Even foods that don't taste salty, such as biscuits and breakfast cereals, can be high in salt. Foods high in salt are also associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer.
Ultra-processed foods are low in fiber, which protects us from cancers that affect the intestines, as well as breast cancer in women. Lack of fiber also causes constipation and increases the risk of other cancers.
Sugar tax thought to cure Hong Kong's bad health habits
Sugar tax thought to cure Hong Kong's bad health habits
Sugar is another factor, and there are many studies linking sugar to cancer. Sugar itself is not carcinogenic, but it stimulates insulin production. Some doctors believe that high levels of insulin in the blood cause cancer because spikes in insulin trigger the release of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), which helps with growth. About cancer cells.
Other doctors believe the link may be obesity. Sugar also promotes obesity. Obesity is an excessive accumulation of fat cells, which release inflammatory proteins called adipokines. These can damage DNA and cause mutations in cells.
All malignant tumors are related to cell mutations. The more obese or overweight you are, the more fat cells you have and the more these inflammatory proteins run through your body, putting you at risk for at least 13 types of cancer, including breast, liver, and colon cancer. It will be.
Colorectal cancer is on the rise, especially in people under the age of 50, but the incidence is too low to justify regular colonoscopies, especially since the procedure carries some risk of bleeding and perforation. , doctors say.
Know your family medical history: your health status can depend on it
Know your family medical history: your health status can depend on it
Many cancers have genetic links, so everyone, regardless of age, should be aware of their family history. And everyone should pay attention to changes in their body and bowel movements.
Do not assume rectal bleeding is hemorrhoids. Also, don't ignore constipation or diarrhea that lasts for a long time without any obvious cause. Pay attention to changes in your intestines. By the way, “too long” is only two weeks.
British cancer activist Dame Deborah James, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 35 and died in 2022 at the age of 40, has urged everyone to look at their own faeces in the toilet bowl.
Watch for dark or black stools, which may indicate bleeding from the tumor. If your stools are narrow, thin, or ribbon-like, tell your doctor because a tumor may be blocking your intestines or rectum.
And Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Zers, apart from noticing the changes mentioned above, remember that youth does not mean immortality. Please live well to live a long life.
Encouraging a healthy lifestyle may reduce the risk of early-onset cancer, as studies have pointed out that cancer rates are rising among young people. .
