A new study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reveals that cancer is becoming more common among young adults in the United States. Between 2010 and 2019, 14 types of cancer increased in people under 50. Researchers are now working to understand why.
Cancer Is Rising in People Under 50
Researchers looked at national data and found that certain cancers are rising in younger adults. These include:
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal (colon and rectal) cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Melanoma (a serious skin cancer)
Out of over 2 million early-onset cancers diagnosed in the study period, about 63% were in women. The most common cancers were:
- For women: Breast, thyroid, and melanoma
- For men: Colorectal, testicular, and melanoma
While some cancers increased, others decreased. For example, rates of lung cancer and prostate cancer went down in people under 50. Overall, cancer death rates stayed the same or fell, except for a few types.
Some Cancers Are More Deadly in Young Adults
Although most young adults with cancer are surviving, a few cancers are causing more deaths in this age group. These include:
- Colorectal cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Bone and joint cancers
Researchers say these increases are a warning sign and should be taken seriously.
Why Are These Cancers Increasing?
Experts aren’t exactly sure why some cancers are rising in younger people, but they have some ideas:
- Obesity and poor diet may play a role
- Changes in lifestyle over time could affect cancer risk
- Better screening and earlier detection mean cancers are found more often
- New technology and health checks might detect cancers that used to go unnoticed
For example, more women are getting breast cancer screenings, and colonoscopies are now recommended at age 45 instead of 50.
Which Cancers Are Increasing Only in Young People?
Some cancers went up only in people under 50 and not in older groups. These include:
- Melanoma
- Cervical cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Bone and joint cancers
- Plasma cell cancers like myeloma
These increases are especially concerning because they may point to new or changing risk factors affecting younger people today.
What Do the Numbers Show?
To understand the full picture, scientists compared cancer numbers in 2019 with what they would have expected based on 2010 rates. Here are some key findings:
- Female breast cancer: 4,800 more cases than expected
- Colorectal cancer: 2,100 extra cases
- Kidney cancer: 1,800 more
- Uterine cancer: 1,200 more
- Pancreatic cancer: 500 more
These five cancers made up over 80% of the increase in early-onset cancers by 2019.
Why This Study Matters
This study used data from across the entire U.S., making the results more reliable. It helps scientists and doctors see where they need to focus their efforts next.
Dr. Meredith Shiels from the NIH said,
“This study is a starting point for understanding which cancers are rising in people under 50.”
The findings may lead to:
- Better screening guidelines
- More targeted public health campaigns
- Further research into causes like diet, environment, and genetics
What’s Next?
To find out why these cancers are rising, researchers say future studies must look deeper into:
- Risk factors like obesity, smoking, and alcohol
- Geographic and racial trends
- Health care access and screening habits
Right now, the study doesn’t include individual data on these issues, which makes it harder to say exactly what’s causing the increases.
Still, the growing trend is clear: More young people are getting cancer, and the medical community is working to understand why—so they can stop it.
