ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — A study published in the Journal BMI Oncology found that from 1990 to 2019, new cancer cases among younger ages increased by about 79 percent globally! So why are so many more young people being affected?
Kevin Hays was diagnosed with colon cancer when he was just 28 years old. Sonia Richard got the same news at age 30.
Sonia says, “I thought, ok I have cancer, I’m going to die.”
Researchers don’t know exactly why the cancer rate is increasing … but there are theories.
Patrick Boland, MD, Medical Oncologist at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey says, “There’s some thought that it has to do with the components of the western lifestyle.”
Some experts point to the rise in obesity among younger populations as a possible culprit. An increased consumption of ultra-processed foods and a sedentary lifestyle could also be to
A recent study suggests that the uptick may have to do with something else: the fact that many younger people have faster biological aging than older generations. Their cells are aging faster and that puts them at a higher risk for developing cancer – especially lung, stomach, intestinal, and uterine cancers.
Kevin says, “When he told me that we found a tumor and you have cancer, I couldn’t even hear the rest of what he was saying.”
The good news is lifestyle interventions like quality sleep, exercise, and good nutrition may be able to slow premature aging and your risk of developing cancer.
The researchers found that those born in 1965 or later were 17 percent more likely to show accelerated aging than those born earlier. To determine the participants’ biological age, they took blood samples and analyzed them for nine specific markers. Knowing a person’s biological age could provide them with a new way to identify those at risk for developing cancer younger. Then, researchers say they could tailor screening and prevention strategies.
Contributors to this news report include: Julie Marks, Producer; Chuck Bennethum, Editor.
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/18/health/cancer-colon-breast-screening-young-wellness/index.html
https://www.health.com/accelerated-aging-cancer-risk-younger-adults-8634021
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/07/health/accelerated-aging-cancer-risk/index.html
CANCER RISK IN YOUNG ADULTS: A GROWING CONCERN
REPORT #3207
EARLY ON-SET CANCER: Early on-set cancer is cancer that happens in people under the age of 50. The most common cancers in young adults (20-39) are lymphoma, melanoma, sarcoma, thyroid, testicular, colorectal, breast, cervix, ovary, brain, and spinal cord. As people age, these cancers become more or less common. In this age group, cancer is the fifth leading cause of death, killing about 9,000 young adults every year. Unlike improvements seen in childhood and older adult cancers, young adult cancers have not seen an improvement in survival rates recently, and survival rates vary based on the type of cancer and other factors. Diagnosis of cancer in young people can be delayed due to health not being as highly prioritized, lifestyle changes from transitioning to adulthood, financial struggles, and cancers not being considered by a doctor due to its lack of commonality in this age group.
(Source: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cancer-in-young-adults.html)
CAUSES & SYMPTOMS: Cancer developed in older adults is often due to their lifestyle, such as smoking, unhealthy weight, physical activity; their genes and genetic mutations; and factors from their environment. Cancer in children and teens are not often due to lifestyle and their environment, more often due to genetic changes before birth or early in life. Cancer in young adults can be caused by gene changes (inherited or acquired), infection by HPV and HIV, and UV light exposure, but many young adult cancers are without an outside cause. Symptoms of cancer can vary due to its type, but common symptoms are new unusual, unexplained, and/or abnormal lumps, bruising, bleeding, ongoing pain, fever, illness, weight loss, moles, skin spots, headaches, and vision changes.
(Source: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cancer-in-young-adults.html)
TREATMENT: Since there are few doctors who specialize in treating cancer in young adults, it can be best to be treated by or with input from pediatric doctors and doctors who specialize in “adult” cancers depending on the specific type of cancer. When possible, getting a second opinion is important, especially if the initial diagnosis isn’t by a specialist. Intensity of treatment will vary based on age, as more aggressive treatment in used on young individuals whose bodies can recover easier. Treatment types are the same amongst all age groups: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, therapy drugs, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and bone marrow transplants. Treatment can also come from clinical trials, which carefully test new treatments on patients who volunteer. Young adult cancer patients can feel isolated, so it is valuable to get support from their community through family and friends; online or in-person support groups; and mental and physical health plans.
(Sources: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cancer-in-young-adults.html
https://www.cancer.gov/types/aya)
* For More Information, Contact:
Patrick Boland, MD
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
(844) 226-2376
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