In a disturbing worldwide trend, cancer cases among young people are increasing sharply. Cancer diagnosed in people under 50, increased globally by a staggering 79 percent. The American Cancer Society reported that the demographics of cancer patients are increasingly shifting from older individuals to middle-aged people. While adults older than 50 experienced a drop in overall cancer incidence from 1995 to 2020, there was a notable increase in people younger than 50. So why are young people getting cancers at higher rates? Radiologist Dr. Steve Falkner with Radiology Associates of the Fox Valley tells WFDL news a big factor may be the food we eat. Dr. Falkner says other factors may be environmental and obesity. According to a 2023 study in the journal BMJ Oncology the types of early-onset cancer that cause the highest death toll and burden globally are breast cancer; tracheal, lung cancer; and stomach and colorectal cancers.
