Cancer is on the rise in young adults
“Between1990 and 2019 the incidence of 29 cancers, including breast, lung and colorectal cancers has increased worldwide in people under the age of 50, particularly in women. Mortality from these cancers has declined but the total number of deaths has risen Nature 627, 258-260 (2024) doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00720-6
Historically we have considered cancer a disease of primarily persons over 50 years old. While this is still the largest percentage of patients, there is an alarming rise in multiple cancer diagnoses in younger patients.
Comparing Gen X generation to their Baby Boomer parents:
Generation X is being diagnosed with more cancer than earlier generations in the United States Gen X women had projected increases in thyroid, kidney, rectal, uterine, colon, pancreatic and ovarian cancers, as well as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia. Gen X men have forecasted rises in thyroid, kidney, rectal, colon and prostate cancers.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/gen-x-more-cancers-baby-boomer-parents
The OutSmart Cancer® System is designed to teach all patients HOW TO CREATE A BODY WHERE CANCER CANNOT THRIVE. Learn about it here: OutSmartCancer.com
For colorectal cancer it is now recommended that the age for first screening should be lowered to age 45, five years earlier.
https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/colorectal-cancer-in-young-people
Patient teaching should also change, making sure that any patient who has any change in their bowel habits that persists, if there is any rectal bleeding that persists, a colonscopy should be ordered to rule out colorectal cancer without delay.
Patients should learn about the importance of a high fiber, plant strong, colorful diet and the inclusion of fermented foods to fuel a healthy intestinal microbiota and importance of avoiding processed foods in favor of whole foods.
Breast Cancer rates have also steadily increased in women under 50 over the past 20 years with steep increases in more recent years. This is due to a surge of women diagnosed with estrogen receptor positive tumors. https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/breast-cancer-rates-increasing-among-younger-women/
Because breast screening typically does not start until age 45, younger women should be instructed to perform self-breast exams monthly so that they can be familiar with their breast tissue and be able to identify changes early and seek an evaluation from a care provider without delay.
Lung cancer is on the rise in young non-smokers. While overall rates of lung cancer have declined as smoking has declined, there is now a surge of lung cancer diagnoses among non-smokers and in patients under 40. 10% of lung cancer patients are below age 55. Approximately 12% of all lung cancer patients are non-smokers. https://utswmed.org/medblog/lung-cancer-young-nonsmokers/
While etiology is not clear, it is reasonable to correlate the changes in lifestyle, food supply, eating habits and environmental toxic exposures over this period.
Modern life is a risk factor for cancer with increasingly sedentary habits, less diverse and more processed foods and increased exposures to a wide variety of environmental chemicals from in-utero, to breast milk to processed baby foods as the first foods for many children, the disruption of microbiome and the intestinal barrier by overuse of antibiotics and steroids and NSAIDs, the depletion of our soil and subsequent loss of nutrient dense food supply, the low intake of fiber in the modern diet along with high levels of stress and disrupted sleep cycles all impact our normal physiology and immunity and increase risk of cellular, mitochondrial and DNA damage and disruption setting the stage for many chronic illnesses including cancer.
A challenge with younger patients is that they may tend to be less self-aware, have a self-perception of low risk and engage with health care providers less frequently, thus are often diagnosed at later stages of cancer development.
Education and awareness targeting high-school, college age as well as younger adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s is key to promote healthy life style choices, avoid toxic exposures, improve quality of nutrients and promote healthy sleep habits as well as understand how to access preventive health care and screenings is crucial.
The OutSmart Cancer® System is designed to teach all patients HOW TO CREATE A BODY WHERE CANCER CANNOT THRIVE. Learn about it here: OutSmartCancer.com