Global rise in early-onset cancer

What is it about?

Cancer is a leading cause of deaths in the world. While it is more common in older adults, cases of early-onset cancer have significantly increased over the last few years. This makes it a serious medical concern globally. Most studies usually focus on the regional and national variations in the cases of cancers and related deaths across all ages. In this study, the author focuses on the global burden of early-onset cancers based on the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study. The author analyzed the early case rates, disease burden, deaths, and risk factors for 29 types of cancer in 204 countries and regions.

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Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The study found that the global case rate of early onset cancer increased by 79.1% in 2019 compared to 1990. And the number of related deaths grew by 27.7%. While some cancers showed a decline in cases and deaths, many others showed a rapid increase. Breast, lung, stomach, and colorectal cancers had the highest death rates and disease burden. Social and demographic factors of regions also impacted the early-onset cancer trends. Unhealthy diets, alcohol, and tobacco use were identified as the main risk factors. Even forecasts for 2030 showed a marked rise in early onset cancer cases and deaths. These results show that early onset cancers affect a major portion of people globally and will continue to do so even in the future. Since these impacts differ across regions and people, countries should tailor their prevention strategies based on their context. Encouraging a healthy lifestyle can reduce the disease burden of early-onset cancers. KEY TAKEAWAY: Overall, this study sheds light on the current and future global trends of early-onset cancers, which can help develop ways to mitigate and prevent them.