Scientists think they’ve found the reason 11 cancers are rising in young people
Major cancer research analysis recently found evidence that 11 different strains are currently on the rise in young people.
The discovery formed part of a steady rise that has been stumping researchers for years.
Now, a group of scientists previously tasked with getting to the bottom of this alarming pattern, believe they're onto something.
Following several studies, researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and Imperial College London, arrived at the conclusion that weight and diet trends in people under 40 are both likely playing a sizeable parts in explaining why these specific cancer levels are at an all-time high.
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While careful not to dismiss several of the most established behavioural risks for these cancers - including smoking, alcohol intake, lack of physical - the team emphasised that figures based on these factors have remained stable in recent years.
As such, these factors aren't likely to be the main culprits behind the rise.
On the other hand, however, the western world's average weight has been increasing slowly since the mid 90s - as have obesity rates.
More specifically, obesity rates in younger women have shown the most considerable rise, shooting up 2.6 per cent each year since 1995.
Incidents trends across 22 cancer strains in women, and 21 in men, were recently examined by the Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research Unit (CEPRU) at ICR.
The group found 11 cancers rising in young people between 20 and 49-year-olds specifically, 10 of which (oral cancer being the exception) were linked by the team to excess weight.
These were listed as bowel cancer, thyroid, multiple myeloma, liver, kidney, gallbladder, pancreatic, womb lining (or endometrial), oral, breast and ovarian.
In both bowel and ovarian cancer, this association seemed to be the strongest.
"Established behavioural risk factors for cancer such as smoking, alcohol use, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, red and processed meat consumption, and low fibre intake together accounted for an estimated 40–50 per cent of cases of bowel, endometrial, oral or liver cancer, in 2019," ICR researchers explained.
"However, the results of the study showed that trends for most of these risk factors, except for overweight and obesity, were either stable or improving, making them unlikely to substantially explain recent increases in incidence."
Prof Montserrat García Closas, a spokesperson for the ICR, added of the findings: "It is very worrisome to hear the news that cancers are increasing in young people.
"However, there are things that can be done to reduce the risk of cancer by having a healthy lifestyle - for instance, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight."
Rhianna Benson