Cancer rates among the younger population are alarmingly on the upswing, with a significant uptick in individuals in their 20s to 40s being diagnosed with various forms.
The unexpected increase in cancer battles amongst the healthier young demographic has left the medical community baffled and deeply troubled, as those who should be looking forward to a lengthy future are now grappling with a radically altered outlook on life.
Researchers are now scrambling to not only find effective treatments for this emerging cohort of cancer sufferers, but also to unravel the mystery behind the escalating numbers.
Medical specialists are delving into the reasons behind the growing prevalence of cancer, pondering over the potential causes for this worrying trend.
The list of suspected causes for the spike in cancer cases includes factors such as changes in gut microbiota, air pollution, microplastics, obesity, alcohol consumption, and the intake of ultra-processed foods, reports Gloucestershire Live.
Experts point out that there’s been an increase in cancers of the digestive system, and shifts in gut bacteria may play a role in the risk of developing these diseases.
Cancer Research UK (CRUK)’s top clinician Charles Swanton was quoted in the Sunday Times Magazine saying: “Eight out of the twelve cancer types that are becoming more common in people under fifty are related to the digestive system.
“In the UK, the rate of bowel cancers in the under-50s has increased by 50 percent since the mid-1990s; we’re also seeing increases in rates of pancreas and stomach cancer.”
Microplastics and air pollution can also play a role in someone’s likelihood of getting cancer, because of the inhalation of carcinogens in the latter, and causing gut inflammation in the former.
It is believed that microplastics could potentially cause damage to someone’s DNA and increase their risk of developing cancer, alongside ultra-processed foods, which have been noted for the presence of high-fructose corn syrup sweetener.
Both obesity and alcohol have long been known to increase one’s risk of health issues across the board, and their impact continues to be felt across the cancer spectrum. This isn’t the first time a rise in the number of young cancer patients has been noted.
Earlier this year, the Express reported that Dr William Dahut had warned: “Despite the ageing overall population, we’re witnessing a notable increase in cancer incidence among the younger demographic, challenging the notion that cancer predominantly affects the elderly.
“There’s a collective effort to understand the underlying environmental factors driving this change in cancer incidence and mortality among the younger population. Cancers linked to obesity, such as pancreas, kidney, postmenopausal breast cancer, and liver cancers, are witnessing an upward trajectory.”
