Cancer cases under the age of 50 increase drastically, study reveals

2023-09-06 14:14:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The number of people aged 50 and under diagnosed with cancer has risen from 1.82 million to 3.26 million in the past three decades, a 79.1% increase, according to a study released Wednesday.

While the international researchers behind the study said poor diet, smoking and alcohol were the main risk factors for cancer in this age group, they added that "the increasing trend in the burden of early-onset cancer is still unclear", although some from growth were explained. from population growth, reports DW.

Physical inactivity and obesity may also have contributed to the trend, the study said.

The researchers used data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study, analyzing rates of 29 different cancers in 204 countries. The study was led by the University of Edinburgh in Scotland and the Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, China, with the United States and Sweden also participating.

What else did the study say?

The study, published in the journal BMJ Oncology, said cancer had led to the death of just over one million people under the age of 50 in 2019, an increase of 28% since 1990, the study said.

The most dangerous forms were breast, throat, lung, bowel and stomach cancer, according to the study, with breast cancer the most frequently diagnosed in the period under review, 1990-2019.

Early-onset throat and prostate cancers saw the fastest rise in under-50s over that period

Liver cancer cases fell by 2.9% per year.

The highest cancer rates among those under 50 were in developed countries, which may be because rich countries have better health care systems and catch the disease earlier, the study said.

Modeling shows that the number of cancer cases under the age of 50 worldwide will increase by a further 31% by 2030, mainly among people aged 40-49.

In an editorial linked to the study, two doctors at Queen's University Belfast in Ireland, Ashleigh Hamilton and Helen Coleman, said it was "crucial" to determine what was driving the increase.

"Kuptimi i plotë i arsyeve që nxisin tendencat e vëzhguara mbetet i pakapshëm, megjithëse faktorët e stilit të jetesës ka të ngjarë të kontribuojnë dhe fusha të reja të kërkimit si përdorimi i antibiotikëve, mikrobioma e zorrëve, ndotja e ajrit në natyrë dhe ekspozimet e hershme të jetës janë duke u eksploruar," thanë ata./ CNA