Oncologist Explains Why Some Types Of Cancer Appear To Be Rising In Young People

“The priority now should be understanding why these increases are occurring and which factors are genuinely driving them.”

Parents editor at HuffPost UK

While most cancers occur in older people, statistics are consistently showing that in places like the UK and US, more people are being diagnosed before 50.

According to a new analysis by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), more new cases are being diagnosed among those younger than 50 for several site-specific cancers.

The analysis uncovered “statistically significant” increases in new cases of breast, bowel, kidney, liver, pancreatic, prostate and uterine cancer in England.

Prostate cancer incidence among under-50s quadrupled between 2001 and 2023, according to the analysis, while rates of bowel, kidney and uterine cancers more than doubled.

Why is this happening?

Dr Jiri Kubes, radiation oncologist and medical director at Proton Therapy Center in Prague, said the figures need to be viewed carefully rather than interpreted as evidence that cancer is suddenly becoming more common among younger people.

“We are seeing some striking increases in the incidence of........

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