Cancer diagnoses among people in their 20s, 30s and 40s are on the rise worldwide. The latest research points out that lifestyle factors such as obesity, alcohol consumption and sugary drinks are mainly to blame for this worrying trend. However, the studies also bring hope – adjusting the diet can significantly reduce the risk of disease, writes .
Today, the probability that one of us will get cancer in our lifetime is about one in two. In the US alone, roughly two million new cases are diagnosed annually, making cancer the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease.
Although overall cancer mortality has been declining since the early 1990s due to earlier diagnosis, better treatment and the decline in smoking, scientists remain concerned about the sharp increase in certain types of the disease among young people. Researchers from the Institute of Cancer Research and Imperial College London have published the results of a study that may be the first key to understanding this phenomenon.
Experts drew attention to 11 types of cancer that are on the rise among 20- to 40-year-olds. They belong here thyroid cancer, multiple myeloma, liver, kidney, gallbladder cancer, colorectal cancer (colon and rectal cancer), pancreatic cancer, endometrium (uterine mucosa), oral cavity, breast and ovaries.
Diagnoses affect patients at an increasingly early age. According to the study, it plays the key role of obesity – it is the only known behavioral risk factor that increases in younger adults. Other risks, such as smoking, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity, remained stable or decreased. According to the findings, maintaining a healthy weight could prevent about 20% of colon cancer, 35% of endometrial tumors and 27% of kidney tumors.
Of particular concern is the rise in colorectal cancer. Over the past 30 years, the risk of developing it among young adults (ages 20 to 39) in the US has increased by two percent per year. The World Health Organization (WHO) clearly warns that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption as it is a known carcinogen. According to experts, the risk starts with the first drop.
The latest WHO research shows that in men, consuming just two alcoholic drinks a day increases the risk of colon cancer by almost 40%. For women, even one drink a day leads to a similarly high risk (and also to the risk of breast cancer). In addition to alcohol, research also points the finger at diet. Dr. Emma Schatoff of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York revealed link between sugary drinks and advanced stages of cancer in young people.
Another problem is the recurrence of cancer. A study by the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center analyzed data from 48,000 young adults in California and found that one in ten patients diagnosed with non-metastatic disease later developed a metastatic recurrence – that is, the cancer came back and spread.
The highest rate of return was recorded for sarcomas (24.5%), colon cancer (21.8%), cervical cancer (16.3%) and breast cancer (14.7%). Survival after such a return of the disease is significantly worse.
Forecasts are relentless, so prevention is key. A large-scale study published in the British Journal of Cancer, which followed the eating habits of more than 1.8 million people for 16 years, brought encouraging news for supporters of a plant-based diet. According to scientists, vegetarians have a significantly lower risk of developing five specific types of cancer: pancreatic cancer (lower risk by 21%), multiple myeloma (a rare blood cancer): by 31%, kidney cancer: by 28%, prostate cancer: by 12% and breast cancer: by 9%.
Dr. Helen Croker of the World Cancer Research Fund International recommends focusing on prevention. “To increase overall protection against cancer we advise you to build your diet on whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. At the same time, we should avoid processed meat and limit the consumption of red meat,” she explained.
