Cancer cases among young people are increasing, particularly those of the nasopharynx and prostate.
- 9,620 children and 5,290 adolescents will be diagnosed with cancer in 2024, according to a new study.
- Over the same year, 1,040 children and 550 adolescents will die.
- The most increasing cancers among young people are those of the nasopharynx and prostate.
“In 2024, an estimated 9,620 children (aged 0 to 14) and 5,290 adolescents (aged 15 to 19) will be diagnosed with cancer, and 1,040 children and 550 adolescents will die from this disease. according to a study on the subject reported by MedicalXpress. Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in both children and adolescents.“
Nasopharyngeal and prostate cancers on the rise
The cancers which are increasing the most among young people are, according to this work, those of the nasopharynx and the prostate. The first affects the nasal passages with, often, nodules in the neck, hearing loss or even pain in the ears, depending on the MSD Manual.
Prostate cancer develops in the cells of this gland of the male genital tract, the multiplication of which creates a malignant tumor. According to Panorama of cancers in France – 2023 edition, this cancer is rare before the age of 50 and its incidence gradually increases with age. But data from the new study seems to show that this cancer is affecting more and more young people.
More and more cancers among people under 50
Among those under 50, the incidence of cancer is also increasing. Indeed, the report notes, at the global level, a growth of 79.1% between 1990 and 2019. Same observation for mortality, with an increase of 27.7%.
Why such an increase among those under 50? “There are a number of hypotheses, answers CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen in a interview. Some researchers point to increasing obesity rates in recent decades, [qui est] associated with the risk of early cancer. In the same order of ideas, [il y a aussi] changing eating habits, particularly the increase in consumption of ultra-processed foods, and a sedentary lifestyle. Lifestyles are also associated with higher cancer rates. Others believe environmental factors could be at play, such as carcinogens released into the air, water and food supplies.”
At any age, to reduce risks, it is recommended to stop smoking and moderate alcohol consumption – maximum two glasses per day and not every day -, to have a balanced diet and to limit a sedentary lifestyle. According to’World Health Organization (WHO), for health, adults aged 18 to 64 should do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity sport or 75 to 150 minutes of sustained intensity per week.