Latest news with #earlyonsetcancer
Medscape
19-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Many Early-Onset Cancers Increasing, Particularly in Women
Rates of certain cancers in the United States — including breast, colorectal, and thyroid cancers — increased between 2010 and 2019 among patients aged less than 50 years, while overall cancer incidence and mortality rates did not increase, a new study found. Among the more than two million cases of early-onset cancer diagnosed during this period, 63.2% were in women, researchers reported recently in Cancer Discovery . Breast cancer, thyroid cancer, and melanoma were the most common early-onset cancers in women. Among men, the most common were colorectal cancer, testicular cancer, and melanoma. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute analyzed cancer incidence data from the United States Cancer Statistics database for 2010-2019 and national death certificate data from the National Center for Health Statistics from 2010 to 2022. The team excluded incidence data from 2020 and 2021, which was artificially low due to COVID. The researchers divided the data according to age groups: The early-onset age groups were 15-29, 30-39, and 40-49 years, and the late-onset groups were 50-59, 60-69, and 70-79 years. The team also estimated the expected number of early-onset cases in 2019 by multiplying 2010 age-specific cancer incidence rates by population counts for 2019. First author Meredith Shiels, of the National Cancer Institute, and colleagues found that the largest absolute increase in incidence of early-onset cancers, compared with expected incidence, were for breast (n = 4834 additional cancers), colorectal (n = 2099), kidney (n = 1793), and uterine cancers (n = 1209). These diagnoses accounted for 80% of the additional cancer diagnoses in 2019 vs 2010. Looking at increases by age group, Shiels and colleagues reported that 1.9% of all cancers occurred in overall early-onset cohort 15- to 49-year-olds (age-standardized incidence rate of 39.8 per 100,000), and the incidence was greater in the older cohorts: 3.6% for 30- to 39-year-olds (123.5 per 100,000) and 8.8% for 40- to 49-year-olds (293.9 per 100,000). Overall, 14 of 33 cancer types significantly increased in incidence in at least one early-onset age group. Among these 14 cancer types, five — melanoma, plasma cell neoplasms, cervical cancer, stomach cancer, and cancer of the bones and joints — showed increases only in early-onset age groups, not in late-onset age groups. For example, between 2010 and 2019, cervical cancer rates increased by 1.39% per year among 30- to 39-year-olds, melanoma rates increased by 0.82% per year among 40- to 49-year-olds, and stomach cancer rates increased by 1.38% per year. The remaining nine cancer types increased in at least one early-onset and one late-onset group. These included female breast, colorectal, kidney, testicular, uterine, pancreatic cancers as well as precursor B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome. For four of the 14 cancer types with increasing incidence rates — testicular cancer, uterine cancer, colorectal cancer, and cancer of the bones and joints — mortality also increased in at least one early-onset age group, whereas the remaining 10 cancer types increased in incidence without an increase in mortality for any age group. Shiels and her colleagues aren't the first to address the rising incidence of early-onset cancers. In a keynote lecture at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2024 Annual Meeting, Irit Ben-Aharon, MD, PhD, from the Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, Israel, noted that from 1990-2019, the global incidence of early-onset cancer increased by 79%. Although the current study doesn't identify drivers of rising cancer rates in younger patients, 'descriptive data like these provide a critical starting point for understanding the drivers of rising rates of cancer in early-onset age groups and could translate to effective cancer prevention and early detection efforts,' Shiels said in a press release. For instance, 'recent guidelines have lowered the age of initiation for breast and colorectal cancer screening based, at least partially, on observations that rates for these cancers are increasing at younger ages.' This study is 'a great step forward' toward understanding the increasing incidence of early-onset cancers, agreed Shuji Ogino, MD, PhD, from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who wasn't involved in the research. The investigators provide new details, particularly by breaking down the early- and late-onset age groups into subcategories, and by comparing incidence and mortality rates, Ogino noted. 'Mortality is a great endpoint because if the increased in early incidence is just an effect of [increased] screening we won't see a mortality increase,' Ogino said. But 'we need more data and some way to tease out the screening effect.' Plus, he added, 'we need more mechanistic studies and tissue-based analyses to determine if early-onset cancers that are increasing in incidence are a different beast, rather than just an earlier beast.' This study was funded by the Intramural Research Program of the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health and the Institute of Cancer Research. Shiels declared no conflicts of interest.
CNN
14-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
CNN Films Launches Doc Examining the Rise of Early-Onset Cancer
May 14th, 2025 NEW YORK – (May 14, 2025) – Today CNN announced the commission of a feature documentary from CNN Films that explores the rise of cancers in adults under 50. Directed by Emmy®, Peabody, and two-time WGA Award nominee Janet Tobias (CNN Films Unseen Enemy and Race for the Vaccine ), the film follows cancer patients and the doctors, scientists, nurses and social workers who care for them at one of the world's leading cancer centers, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Presented by CNN Films, In the Prime of Life (w/t) is a Global Health Reporting Center and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios production and will premiere in 2026. In the US and around the world, a disease once thought of as affecting the elderly is increasingly becoming a disease of adults in the prime of their lives. 'Early onset' cancer, cancer affecting adults from 18-49, increased globally by a staggering 79% between 1990 and 2019. As scientists around the world are trying to comprehend what is causing this broad rise, In the Prime of Life (w/t) takes us inside Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where Tobias follows a small group of patients as they deal with their cancer diagnosis, treatment, and the effect of the disease. With her signature blend of curiosity and empathy, Tobias documents every aspect of their lives – from dating and marriage to work and finances, from sexuality and fertility to friendship and parenting. For the first time in its history, MSK is granting exclusive access to their doctors, scientists and other staff as they race to understand and treat these patients' disease and work to provide specialized support for this rising population. 'We are thrilled to partner with CNN Films and Amy Entelis again to bring this film to audiences,' said Tobias. 'It is my privilege to document the journey of a group of younger cancer patients and their families, as well as highlight the work of MSK physicians, nurses, and social workers as they tackle this critical public health issue.' 'CNN Films has a long history of journalistic explorations into the scientific discovery process and Janet brings an illuminating and empathic touch as she puts a human face on early onset cancer,' said Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Originals, and creative development for CNN Worldwide. 'It is an honor to reteam with her along with our partners at HHMI Tangled Bank Studios to raise awareness for this important research.' 'We are delighted to work with Janet and the team at CNN Films to give audiences an inside look at the cutting edge of cancer research and treatment,' said Executive Producer and Head of HHMI Tangled Bank Studios Jared Lipworth. 'We hope these stories will highlight the vital role science plays in saving lives and lead young people to understand the risks and available treatments and seek out early screening options.' Presented by CNN Films, In The Prime of Life (w/t) is a Global Health Reporting Center and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios production. The film is directed by Janet Tobias and produced by Roger Lopez of the Global Health Reporting Center. Executive producers are Amy Entelis and Roxanna Sherwood for CNN Films along with Jared Lipworth and Chad Cohen for HHMI Tangled Bank Studios. Zac James Nicholson is the cinematographer. In The Prime of Life (w/t) is the third film jointly produced by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and Tobias' Global Health Reporting Center. The CNN Film, Race for the Vaccine , focused on the development of the COVID vaccine and debuted on cable network in 2021. Ending HIV in America premiered on NOVA in fall 2022. ### About CNN Originals The CNN Originals group develops, produces and acquires original, long-form unscripted programming for CNN Worldwide. Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Originals and creative development, oversees the award-winning CNN Originals portfolio that includes the following premium content brands: CNN Original Series, CNN Films, CNN Presents, and the newly formed CNN Studios, an internal production studio which creates long-form programming for CNN's global platforms. Since 2012, the team has overseen and executive produced more than 45 multi-part documentary series and 60 feature-length documentary films, earning more than 110 awards and 445 nominations for the cable network, including CNN Films' first Academy Award® for Navalny . Acclaimed titles include the Peabody Award winning and 13-time Emmy® Award-winning Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown ; five time Emmy® nominee, Apollo 11 , directed by Todd Douglas Miller; Emmy® nominated Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico ; the Emmy® Award-nominated 'Decades Series': The Sixties , The Seventies , The Eighties , The Nineties , The 2000s , and The 2010s, executive produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman; The Last Movie Stars , directed by Ethan Hawke about the lives and careers of actors and humanitarians Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman; Grammy® Award nominee Little Richard: I Am Everything , directed by Lisa Cortés; The Many Lives of Martha Stewart ; This is Life with Lisa Ling ; Primetime Emmy® and duPont-Columbia Award-winning, RBG , directed by Betsy West and Julie Cohen; See It Loud: The History of Black Television , executive produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter; Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight in partnership with the BBC; the Producers Guild Award and three-time Emmy® Award-winning Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy ; BAFTA nominee and Directors Guild Award winner, Three Identical Strangers , directed by Tim Wardle; and the five-time Emmy® Award-winning United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell ; and the five-time Emmy® Award-winning The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper . CNN Originals can be seen on CNN, the CNN Original Hub on Max and discovery+, and for pay TV subscription via CNN apps and cable operator platforms. About Global Health Reporting Center The Global Health Reporting Center (GHRC) is an independent, nonprofit newsroom committed to producing in-depth content about the vital health challenges of our time. About HHMI Tangled Bank Studios HHMI Tangled Bank Studios is a mission-driven production company that seeks to shine a light on some of the most significant scientific challenges and breakthroughs of our time. Recent films include Blue Carbon , Every Little Thing, Wild Hope, Hunt for the Oldest DNA, Wilding , Blue Whales: Return of the Giants , and Oscar-nominated All That Breathes , the only film to win best documentary at both the Sundance and Cannes film festivals. Other notable films include Emmy Award-winners The Serengeti Rules and The Farthest – Voyager In Space ; Emmy-nominated Hunt for the Oldest DNA , My Garden of a Thousand Bees, Battle to Beat Malaria, and Nature's Fear Factor ; and Peabody Award winner Inventing Tomorrow . To extend the reach and impact of each film, the studio undertakes educational and public outreach efforts in partnership with purpose-focused organizations. For more information, please visit CNN Films Press Contacts
Forbes
10-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Early-Onset Cancer Is Surging — Here's How To Lower Our Risk
Once considered rare, early-onset cancer is now an alarming reality. More young adults are getting ... More diagnosed with cancer as rates rise among people under age 50. Cancer is typically thought of as a disease of aging. That is changing, unfortunately. Early-onset cancer is surging in people under age 50. Cancer is now a disease young people increasingly need to worry about. And it's not just one or two rare malignancies. A new U.S. government study found that the largest increases are in breast, colorectal, kidney and uterine cancers. Scientists from the National Cancer Institute looked at data that included more than two million cancers diagnosed in people 15 to 49 years old between 2010 and 2019. A 2023 study in BMJ Oncology also reported that global early-onset cancer cases rose by nearly 80% between 1990 and 2019. Some of the rise may be due to better detection. But that doesn't explain most of it. Something — or more accurately, many somethings — are fundamentally changing cancer risk in young people. Here's what's going on and what could be done about it, should we choose to take action. Normally, cells grow, divide and die in a controlled fashion. Cancer cells don't because their DNA has mutated. The result is uncontrollable cell division: the formation of cancerous tumors or blood cells which in some cases spread throughout the body and become deadly. The DNA mutations that cause cancer arise from several sources. Some people inherit faulty DNA repair mechanisms, like BRCA mutations that elevate breast and ovarian cancer risk. But most mutations are acquired — from lifestyle, environmental exposures, or spontaneous errors during cell division. Older people accumulate more mutations over time. Yet the issue is that many children and young adults are increasingly exposed to cancer-causing factors compared to prior generations. This translates to more cancer in young people. Perhaps the most dramatic shift in modern life is the dramatic rise in ultra-processed food consumption. The so-called Standard American Diet (aptly abbreviated SAD) is now the global norm: high in refined sugar, low in fiber and full of chemical additives, emulsifiers, nitrates and preservatives. A 2023 meta-analysis found that just a 10% increase in ultra-processed food consumption was linked to a 13% higher overall cancer risk and an 11% higher risk of breast cancer. Other studies have linked ultra-processed food intake to increased rates of colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Some estimate a 30–50% increased risk. Processed meats — like bacon, hot dogs, and deli meats — are classified by the World Health Organization as Group 1 carcinogens, on par with tobacco and asbestos. Yet these products are staples in many American diets, including those of children and teens. Known carcinogens are regularly served in school lunches. Surges in obesity are another major driver. Since 1975, global obesity rates have more than quadrupled. Over 40% of U.S. adults are now classified as obese, with alarming increases in adolescents and young adults. Excess fat – particularly the tissue that surrounds the internal organs – is metabolically active, producing inflammatory molecules, altering hormone levels and impairing insulin signaling. This combination can promote the growth of cancer. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, obesity is linked to at least 13 different cancer types, including colorectal, endometrial, kidney, and postmenopausal breast cancer. And it's not just weight. Sedentary behavior plays a role. A meta-analysis found that prolonged sitting increases cancer risk independently of exercise, raising the likelihood of colon, endometrial, and breast cancers by up to 29%. Modernity is a soup of synthetic chemicals -- from BPA in plastics to phthalates in cosmetics, PFAS in water-resistant materials and pesticides in food. These substances, which have increased dramatically over the last 50 years, are collectively known as the :exposome.' They can damage DNA, disrupt hormone regulation and trigger chronic inflammation — all triggers for cancer formation. Research has found strong associations between exposure to air pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, indoor toxins like formaldehyde and higher cancer risk — particularly for lung, breast, prostate, and even melanoma. Recent research suggests that microplastic particles found in human blood and tissue may also pose emerging carcinogenic risks, though further study is needed. Despite its social acceptance, alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen — even in moderate amounts. Alcohol damages the cell's DNA, increases estrogen levels, and contributes to oxidative stress. The risk is especially notable for breast cancer in women and colorectal cancer in both sexes. One study ound that moderate to heavy drinking significantly increased the dose-dependent risk of early-onset colorectal cancer. The American Cancer Society now states plainly: no amount of alcohol is safe when it comes to cancer risk. Addressing the cancer surge in young people requires a multi-layered approach. First, governments could consider warning labels for ultra-processed and red meat products and restrict marketing junk food to children and adolescents. Governments could also subsidize access to healthier foods — especially in schools where today's lunches are filled with ultra-processed food high in refined sugar and processed meats. Early-life prevention should become a cornerstone of cancer control: educating families on nutrition and physical activity, supporting maternal health and early childhood environments and ensuring every child gets metabolic screening. Preventing obesity and insulin resistance could dramatically shift lifetime cancer risk. Environmental regulation could also better address modern chemical exposure. This should include limiting or perhaps even banning endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as BPA and PFAS from food packaging, personal care products and household items. Large-scale investment in exposome research could help us understand how lifelong chemical exposures interact with our genes and affect cancer risk. Stronger FDA oversight and transparent ingredient labeling could empower consumers to make safer choices. Screening and early detection must also evolve. The American Cancer Society has already lowered the recommended age for colorectal cancer screening to 45 because of the increasing incidence in younger adults. Additionally, risk-stratification approaches that include family history, lifestyle factors, and metabolic markers may justify even earlier screening for many. Expanding access to non-invasive diagnostic tools — such as stool DNA tests — and integrating AI-driven risk assessment models could help identify high-risk individuals sooner, enabling earlier interventions. Finally, alcohol and sedentary behavior need to be addressed. Public health campaigns should clearly communicate alcohol as a carcinogen and challenge the normalization of drinking in youth culture. We should promote physical movement, including active transportation options, walkable neighborhoods, and work environments that reduce sitting time. Schools, too, should emphasize daily physical activity not just for fitness but for long-term disease prevention. Ultimately, the rise of early-onset cancer is not inevitable — it's a consequence of choices made over the past 50 years in how we grow and process our food, build our cities, regulate our chemicals and conduct our daily lives. Reversing this trend will require political will, corporate accountability and a cultural shift in how we value long-term health.
The Independent
08-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Cancer before age 50 is increasing. A new study looks at which types
Cancer before age 50 is rare, but increasing, in the United States and researchers want to know why. A new government study provides the most complete picture yet of early-onset cancers, finding that the largest increases are in breast, colorectal, kidney and uterine cancers. Scientists from the National Cancer Institute looked at data that included more than 2 million cancers diagnosed in people 15 to 49 years old between 2010 and 2019. Of 33 cancer types, 14 cancers had increasing rates in at least one younger age group. About 63% of the early-onset cancers were among women. 'These kinds of patterns generally reflect something profound going on,' said Tim Rebbeck of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who studies cancer risk and was not involved in the research. 'We need to fund research that will help us understand." The findings were published Thursday in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. How many extra cancers are we talking about? The researchers compared cancer rates in 2019 to what would be expected based on 2010 rates. Breast cancer made up the largest share of the excess cancers, with about 4,800 additional cases. There were 2,000 more colorectal cancers compared with what would be expected based on the 2010 rates. There were 1,800 more kidney cancers and 1,200 additional uterine cancers. Reassuringly, death rates were not rising for most cancers in the young adult age groups, although increasing death rates were seen for colorectal, uterine and testicular cancers. Why is this happening? Explanations will take more research. The big databases used for the study don't include information on risk factors or access to care. Theories abound and a big meeting is planned later this year to bring together experts in the area. 'Several of these cancer types are known to be associated with excess body weight and so one of the leading hypotheses is increasing rates of obesity,' said lead author Meredith Shiels of the National Cancer Institute. Advances in cancer detection and changes in screening guidelines could be behind some early diagnoses. For breast cancer, the trend toward women having a first child at older ages is a possible explanation. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are known to reduce risk. It's not a uniform trend for all cancers This isn't happening across the board. Cancer rates in people under 50 are going down for more than a dozen types of cancer, with the largest declines in lung and prostate cancers. Cigarette smoking has been declining for decades, which likely accounts for the drop in lung cancer among younger adults. The drop in prostate cancer is likely tied to updated guidelines discouraging routine PSA testing in younger men because of concerns about overtreatment. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
