 Cancer cases among the under 50s have soared by 79% globally over the past three decades, reveals new research. Breast cancer accounted for the highest number of 'early onset' cases in 2019, say scientists. But cancers of the windpipe and prostate have risen the fastest since 1990 while liver cancer cases saw the biggest fall, according to the findings published by BMJ Oncology. Cancers exacting the heaviest death toll and compromising health the most among younger adults in 2019 were those of the breast, windpipe, lung, bowel, and stomach. And researchers forecast that the trend will continue with those in their 40s the most at risk. While cancer tends to be more common in older people, the evidence suggests that cases among the under 50s have been rising in many parts of the world since the 1990s. But most previous studies have focused on regional and national differences while few have looked at the issue from a global perspective or the risk factors for younger adults. Breast cancer accounted for the highest number of 'early onset' cases in 2019, say scientists (Picture: PA) The research team looked at data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 Study for 29 cancers in 204 countries and regions. They analysed new cases, deaths, health consequences and contributory risk factors for all those aged 14 to 49 to estimate annual percentage change between 1990 and 2019. In 2019, new cancer diagnoses among the under 50s totalled 3.26 million, an increase of 79% on the 1990 figure. Overall, breast cancer accounted for the largest number of cases and associated deaths at 13.7 and 3.5/100,000 of the global population, respectively. But new cases of early onset windpipe and prostate cancers rose the fastest between 1990 and 2019, with estimated annual changes of 2.28% and 2.23%, respectively. Early onset liver cancer saw the biggest fall of an estimated 2.88% every year. 'More than one million under 50s died of cancer){kind=link}
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Cancer cases among the under 50s have soared by 79% globally over the past three decades, reveals new research.
Breast cancer accounted for the highest number of ‘early onset’ cases in 2019, say scientists.
But cancers of the windpipe and prostate have risen the fastest since 1990 while liver cancer cases saw the biggest fall, according to the findings published by BMJ Oncology.
Cancers exacting the heaviest death toll and compromising health the most among younger adults in 2019 were those of the breast, windpipe, lung, bowel, and stomach.