A recent study conducted in Edinburgh has uncovered that factors such as obesity and alcohol consumption are contributing to a surge in cancer cases among individuals under the age of 50 worldwide. The research indicates that between 1990 and 2019, there was a substantial 79 percent increase in new cancer cases within this age group. Nonetheless, in the UK, cancer-related deaths due to early diagnosis have witnessed an annual decline from 2010 to 2019.
This study was carried out by a collaborative team of researchers from the University of Edinburgh in Ireland and Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China. They meticulously analyzed data sourced from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study, encompassing 29 different types of cancer across 204 countries. The researchers focused on examining new cases, mortality rates, health outcomes, and various contributing factors for individuals aged 14 to 49.
In 2019, a staggering 3.26 million new cancer cases were diagnosed among individuals under 50, marking an alarming 79.1 percent surge since 1990. During this time frame, the death rate also registered an unsettling increase of 27.7 percent.
The researchers underscored that while genetics do play a role in cancer, the primary risk factors are associated with lifestyle choices. These include smoking, alcohol consumption, and a diet characterized by high meat and salt intake coupled with low consumption of fruits and dairy products. Additionally, being overweight, leading a sedentary lifestyle, and elevated blood sugar levels are also contributing risk factors.
Among these cancer cases, breast cancer accounted for the highest proportion, with a diagnosis rate of 13.7 per 100,000 people. Meanwhile, cases of respiratory tract and prostate cancer showed rapid increases, with annual growth rates of 2.28 percent and 2.23 percent, respectively. Conversely, there was a notable decline in the early diagnosis of liver cancer, with an annual decrease of 2.88 percent.
