Mayukh Saha
Mayukh Saha
April 20, 2024 ·  6 min read

Early-Onset Cancer in Young Adults is On The Rise. Here’s What You Should Know

Even though medical discoveries and progress are happening quickly, the rising number of young adults with early-onset cancer is still a very big worry. Imagine that a generation that should be full of youthful energy is now fighting a surprise enemy in the form of cancer. In the past few years, there has been an unsettling rise in the number of young people who are diagnosed with cancer at a young age.

A story about a young woman who fought early-stage cancer.

Image Credit: Vanessa Chapoy | Instagram

This is Vanessa Chapoy. She is a brave young woman who found a walnut-sized lump in her breast when she was 24 years old. She had no idea that this lump that didn’t seem like anything would lead to a stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis that would change her life.

Vanessa’s life took a sudden turn when she started her brave fight against cancer. She had to go through a lot of scary treatments, like a lumpectomy, fertility treatments, chemotherapy, and finally a double mastectomy. Every step was hard and made Vanessa feel bad, but she kept her strength and drive through it all.

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A post shared by Vanessa | Cancer Advocate (@vanessachapoy)

Vanessa, who is now 27 years old, is still dealing with the effects of her treatments. Because she had cancer, she has early menopause-like symptoms because of hormone treatment, and she has chemo brain, which is a problem with her thinking that happens after chemotherapy.

Vanessa’s story is unfortunately not unique; it shows a growing trend in our healthcare system: cancer that starts early. The shocking facts: early-onset cancer is on the rise. Cancer has long been thought of as a disease that mostly affects older people since most people who get cancer are 65 or older. However, there has been a worrying rise in early-onset cancer cases in people younger than 50 in recent years.

Even scarier is the rise in teens and young adults (15–39) who are getting cancer at a younger age. The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports that between 2000 and 2019, the number of cases of early-onset cancer rose by 18%. This was more than the small drop in cancer rates among older people.

This rise has affected many parts of the body, such as the blood, bone marrow, digestive tract, and sexual organs, and is not limited by gender, race, or organs. In the past 19 years, the rate of breast cancer in young people (15–39 years old) has gone up by more than 17%, while the rate of colorectal cancer has gone through the roof by almost 45%.

Why cancer that starts early happens

Researchers are still having a hard time figuring out the exact reasons behind the rise in cancers that start in childhood. Some people think that better screening methods that lead to more early detections and wrong diagnoses may be part of the reason for the rise, especially in thyroid and prostate cancers. Overdiagnosis happens when screenings find tumors that might not have been harmful, which makes cancer rates seem higher than they really are.

But a number of changes in the world and people’s lifestyles since the middle of the 20th century may have led to the worsening. These include the following:

1. Weight gain and changes in lifestyle

In kids and teens, the number of obese people has been steadily rising since the 1960s. This is important because it has been linked to many types of cancer, including breast, uterine, and intestinal cancer. Studies show that the huge rise in cancers linked to fat may play a big role in cancers that start early.

2. Westernized diets and a lack of physical activity

A greater chance of getting cancer has been linked to living poorly, drinking a lot of sugary drinks, eating processed meats, and not being active enough.

3. Problems with metabolism and other danger signs

Early-onset cancer has been linked to conditions like type 2 diabetes, more people using weed, and more people getting diagnostic imaging, which exposes patients to radiation that can cause cancer.

4. Triggers in genes and the environment

Some other things that have been thought to be linked to early-onset cancer are changes in height, sleep habits, and the body’s microbiome. Researchers have found that changes in the microbiome caused by food, lifestyle, or surgery may play a role in colorectal cancer that starts early.

Taking steps to avoid problems and recognizing their signs

The number of early-onset cancer cases needs to be slowed down by early diagnosis and prevention. Take a look at these symptoms:

1. Weight loss that you can’t explain: Losing weight quickly and without changing what you eat or how much you move could be a sign of cancer. If you lose weight for no clear reason, you might want to see a doctor.

2. Feeling tired and weak: Feeling tired and weak all the time that doesn’t get better with rest could be a sign of cancer. Talk to your doctor if your tiredness is making it hard for you to do things every day.

3. Changes in the skin: Moles or other skin sores that change size, shape, or color in strange ways could be signs of skin cancer. To lower your chance of skin cancer, use sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and stay out of direct sunlight for long periods of time.

4. Changes in the way you go to the bathroom or urinate: Don’t ignore any changes that don’t go away in the way you go to the bathroom or urinate, like finding blood in your stool or pee.

5. A history of cancer in your family: If someone in your family has had cancer, you should tell your doctor because it may raise your risk.

Fight Early-Onset Cancer

Follow a healthy food and way of life: This is where optimal well-being starts. Limit your alcohol intake, don’t smoke, eat a healthy diet, stay active, and protect your skin from UV rays. Help your body meet its unique nutritional needs: Get the Men’s Core and Women’s Core Essentials, which were carefully made to give men and women the nutrients they need for good health. Don’t forget that a healthy body is better able to avoid and deal with health problems.

Avoid bad habits: You can lower your chance of getting cancer by staying away from risky behaviors like too much sun exposure, unsafe sexual practices, and drug use for fun.

Limit your exposure to harmful toxins: Know about possible toxins and pollutants in the surroundings. When you can, buy organic food and clean and care for yourself with natural items.

Get regular screenings: Based on your age, gender, and risk factors, get the cancer screenings that are suggested for you. Cancer can be found early, when treatment is often more effective, with the help of regular tests.

Take charge of your health: Talk to your healthcare expert in an honest way. As part of your preventive care, don’t be afraid to ask questions or share concerns.

We can work toward a world where early-onset cancer is rare by being aware of possible symptoms and making healthy lifestyle choices. To change this troubling health trend and make sure that young adults with cancer get the best care and help along their journey, we need to raise awareness, fund research, and offer support.

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