Over the past 10 years, rates of colorectal cancer among 25 to 49 year olds have increased in 24 different countries, including the UK, US, France, Australia, Canada, Norway and Argentina.
The investigation’s early findings, presented by an international team at the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) congress in Geneva in September 2024, were as eye-catching as they are concerning.
The researchers, from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) International Agency for Research on Cancer, surveyed data from 50 countries to understand the trend. In 14 of these countries, the rising trend was only seen in younger adults, with older adult rates remaining stable.
Based on epidemiological investigations, it seems that this trend first began in the 1990s. One study found that the global incidence of early-onset cancer had increased by 79% between 1990 and 2019, with the number of cancer-related deaths in younger people rising by 29%. Another report in The Lancet Public Health described how cancer incidence rates in the US have steadily risen between the generations across 17 different cancers, particularly in Generation Xers and Millennials.
My point is that a lot of these things have flooded the market since the early 80s, which would make the tail end of Generation X the first generation that’s been in constant contact with these things their entire lives.
Scotch Guard (PFAS) was released in the 50s and everyone went gangbusters spraying it on everything.
Plastic based and molded products started to be seen around 1910 and surged in the 50s after WW2.
Processed foods were a thing since the 1800s with sugars as HFCS added into everything since the 60s.
Not to discredit what you’re saying, but, and this is solely based within the context of this particular headline discussion, it would cause you to look elsewhere. I’m thinking it’s more stress based. I’m working my butt off to evolve my small business just to survive. While we are having success and growth, it takes no less than 16 hours a day Sunday through Saturday to make it happen. I remember watching some family members and other inspiring business leaders as a kid in the 80s working regular 8 hour days and owning two homes.
Further to that, psychological medicine is so far behind and mental health has a major, if not direct, effect on physical wellness.
