SAN DIEGO — News of Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis is renewing interest in the rise of younger people getting the disease.
Doctors across the United States and around the globe have noticed an alarming new trend — cancer patients are getting younger, with more people under 50 getting diagnosed.
“We are seeing the rates of cancers going up, it is alarming for a number of reasons," said family medicine and chief impact officer at Sharp Rees-Stealy Downtown, Dr. Abisola Olulade.
The findings are leaving doctors desperate to find answers.
According to federal data, diagnosis rates in the U.S. rose in 2019 to about 108 cases per one thousand people under 50, that’s up nearly 13% from 2000.
“There was actually a study that was published in the BMJ last year, that said that the rates of cancers have gone up by almost 80% in people 14 to 49 and that was from 1990 to 2019 and that’s really scary," said Dr. Olulade.
Gastrointestinal concerns are increasing the fastest for people under 50. Colorectal cancer trends have been especially concerning.
“Colon cancer is rising and we don’t fully know why, there are a lot of theories that have been posited so such as maybe the gut microbiome, we’re seeing more inflammation from that potentially," added Olulade.
Researchers believe possible causes range from inactive lifestyles, microplastics, and the consumption of processed foods.
“Increasing the amount of fiber in your diet, increasing your fruits and vegetables intake, decreasing alcohol, these are all things that we can control and then family history does play a role," recommended Dr. Olulade.
When it comes to cancer survival — early detection is key however, a survey by the Prevent Cancer Foundation found that 69% of U.S. adults are behind on at least one routine cancer screening.
“We’re not powerless in stopping this, there are things we can do to protect ourselves. Early detection does save lives and it’s also important, especially in young people when it’s appropriate, because sometimes younger people may get a more aggressive form of cancer when it’s found," said Olulade.
Colorectal cancer screening guidelines, which previously recommended starting at age 50, have been lowered to 45 for average-risk adults. The change stems from an increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in adults younger than 50.
Dr. Olulade adds that the general screening guidelines are for people who are at average risk. It’s important to know your risk because you may need to get screened sooner based on your family history.
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