The diagnosis of cancer is the last thing that any of the age of 50 years expects that recently it has become a harsh reality for many young people. Cases of early start of cancer are those that are diagnosed in adults aged 18 to 49 – since the 1990s are growing, which reflects a terrible trend that health experts are trying to understand.
In May 2025, a study published in Cancer discoveryResearchers from the National Institute of Health have found that the incidence 14 types Cancer has increased among people under 50 from 2010 to 2019. The most significant increase was noticed with breast cancer, colorectal, kidneys and uterus.
What can cause this growth of cancer among young people? Until now, studies, according to, suggest that a number of factors are to blame.
Cancer catalyst
While scientists have not yet received a certain answer to explain why the growing cases of cancer in an early beginning, they proposed several ideas.
In some cases, it is the choice of lifestyle that increases the risk of cancer. A sedentary lifestyle, characterized by almost without physical exercises, in combination with poor nutrition, which includes highly processed products, can lay the basis for cancer.
Near One tenth Cancer in the United States can be explained by obesity, mainly because this leads to chronic inflammation and a change in the level of hormones that contribute to cancer growth in certain parts of the body. According to the World Health Organization, about 16 percent of adults aged 18 years and older around the world were obesity In 2022, the rate that has doubled since 1990.
Read more: Intestinal microbia can help our bodies fight cancer
The connection between microplastics and cancer
Some factors that contribute to the higher risk of cancer are more or less not control. Environmental factors, such as MicroplasticsThere may be some of the main criminals in this sense. In recent years, studies have revealed the prevalence of microplastics and their potential role in the development of cancer.
2025 study They showed that plastic particles can accumulate in the colon, and other studies have found higher concentrations of microplastics in those who have colorectal cancer than those who do not have cancer.
As microplastics fall into our systems, they can cause damage to cells and tissues, inflammation and genetic mutations. When we inhale them, our lung cells are one of the first to suffer from the consequences, undergoing changes to changes usually associated with the development of cancer. Since young generations were exposed to disposable plastics all their lives, they are especially vulnerable to health problems that occur as a result of microplastics.
Catching cancer early
Fortunately, despite the fact that the early diagnoses of cancer are growing, the total mortality from cancer decreases for most types of cancer. The mortality rate from the uterus, pancreas and liver cancer increased, but other types, such as breast cancer, kidneys and lungs, have observed a decrease in mortality over the years.
Nevertheless, some types of cancer that appear in young people tend to be more aggressive than in older people. According to the breast cancer studies, Breast cancer In women under the age of 40, more likely, a larger tumor and an increased stage of the tumor are given.
Despite the fact that obesity and microplastics, of course, can affect the development of cancer, diagnostics can grow in young people from an earlier screening and improving technologies.
A study Recently published in Jama internal medicineEn He suggested that the early beginning of cases of cancer gets just more often, which challenges the idea that there is an actual surge in cancer. In recent years, several healthcare organizations reduce the recommended age for Cancer Views – the majority now advise the screening of colorectal cancer at the age of 45 (down 50) and screening of breast cancer in order to start at the age of 40 (compared to 50).
This article does not offer medical consultation and should be used only for information purposes.
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