Once known to affect the elderly, the past three decades have seen a huge increase in the early onset of cancer, with people even before the age of 40 or 50.
Various studies have provided evidence that the increase in cancer seen globally, including in India, is due to unhealthy lifestyles, including high consumption of junk food rich in sugar, salt and fat along with lack of exercise.
“There has been a significant increase in some types of cancer in young people globally. For example, in the 30 to 39 year old age group, gall bladder cancer rates have increased by 200 over the period 1991 to 2021,” said the University of Sydney. "Uterine 158 per cent, Colorectal 153 per cent, Kidney 89 per cent, Pancreas 83 per cent," Acting Dean and PR Vice Chancellor Medicine and Health Robin Ward told IANS.
"Proposed reasons for this increase include obesity, poor diet and physical inactivity," he said, adding that "young Millennial adults are three times more likely to develop cancer than the same age group born in the 1940s".Who is at greater risk?
Robin said that "overall, the incidence is higher in men than women and men are more likely to die".
The professor said that the incidence of cancer varies according to the type of organ, for example, prostate, lung, colorectal cancer is most common in men, while breast, lung and colorectal cancer are predominant in women.
What are the most common 'early' cancers? How to stop it?
In most cancers, such as cervical and colorectal, early detection increases the chances of cure. But for some people, like brain cancer, early detection doesn't make a difference.
The best evidence for prevention is cervical cancer and colorectal (bowel) cancer, Robin said.Cervical cancer can be prevented through vaccination and is treatable if detected early. Infection with specific strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary driver (95 percent) of cervical cancer, which can be prevented by vaccination.
On the other hand, increasing national screening programs for breast, cervical, and colorectal (colon) cancer may help promote treatment as well as decline mortality.
"For the right cancers, early detection would help, for example cervical bowel and breast. But current screening programs for population-based cancers are based on age, not risk," the professor told IANS.,
Some young people may be at higher risk of cancer while older people may not. Age-based screening programs may not help, but modern technologies such as genomics, big data and artificial intelligence can
Can play an important role.
He said, “There is a huge opportunity to develop genetic stratification with modern technologies such as genomics, big data and AI, which is incorporated with health records to develop risk-based screening. This would help in creating personalized screening programs.” Is."
Various studies have provided evidence that the increase in cancer seen globally, including in India, is due to unhealthy lifestyles, including high consumption of junk food rich in sugar, salt and fat along with lack of exercise.
“There has been a significant increase in some types of cancer in young people globally. For example, in the 30 to 39 year old age group, gall bladder cancer rates have increased by 200 over the period 1991 to 2021,” said the University of Sydney. "Uterine 158 per cent, Colorectal 153 per cent, Kidney 89 per cent, Pancreas 83 per cent," Acting Dean and PR Vice Chancellor Medicine and Health Robin Ward told IANS.
"Proposed reasons for this increase include obesity, poor diet and physical inactivity," he said, adding that "young Millennial adults are three times more likely to develop cancer than the same age group born in the 1940s".Who is at greater risk?
Robin said that "overall, the incidence is higher in men than women and men are more likely to die".
The professor said that the incidence of cancer varies according to the type of organ, for example, prostate, lung, colorectal cancer is most common in men, while breast, lung and colorectal cancer are predominant in women.
What are the most common 'early' cancers? How to stop it?
In most cancers, such as cervical and colorectal, early detection increases the chances of cure. But for some people, like brain cancer, early detection doesn't make a difference.
The best evidence for prevention is cervical cancer and colorectal (bowel) cancer, Robin said.Cervical cancer can be prevented through vaccination and is treatable if detected early. Infection with specific strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary driver (95 percent) of cervical cancer, which can be prevented by vaccination.
On the other hand, increasing national screening programs for breast, cervical, and colorectal (colon) cancer may help promote treatment as well as decline mortality.
"For the right cancers, early detection would help, for example cervical bowel and breast. But current screening programs for population-based cancers are based on age, not risk," the professor told IANS.,
Some young people may be at higher risk of cancer while older people may not. Age-based screening programs may not help, but modern technologies such as genomics, big data and artificial intelligence can
Can play an important role.
He said, “There is a huge opportunity to develop genetic stratification with modern technologies such as genomics, big data and AI, which is incorporated with health records to develop risk-based screening. This would help in creating personalized screening programs.” Is."
