Prof Andrew Beggs of Birmingham University runs a special clinic for young people with cancer and has noted, as have other experts, that more and more people under the age of 45 are being diagnosed with some form of the condition.

He informed the Observer that there are multiple factors contributing to this increase. Firstly, we have improved in our ability to detect cancer at earlier stages. Additionally, there is a heightened awareness surrounding the issue. Young individuals are more attuned to their health compared to past generations, leading them to be more inclined to seek assistance when they first experience symptoms.

According to scientists, this is positive information. When a cancer remains untreated for an extended period of time, it has the potential to spread throughout the body and lead to fatal outcomes. Michelle Mitchell, CEO of Cancer Research UK, stated that detecting cancer in its early stages increases the chances of successful treatment.

The fact that young people are more willing to come forward for diagnosis and treatment also reflects the notable improvements made in treating cancers over recent decades. “People no longer see cancer as an inevitable death sentence, as did previous generations,” added Beggs. “Today, it is seen as something that can often be cured. That gives them further impetus to come forward.”

One reason for the increase in cancer cases among younger people is the presence of inherited tendencies for illnesses like colon and breast cancer. These inherited traits can be transferred from family members, and as carriers live longer and have more children, the genes responsible may become more prevalent in the population. According to Beggs, this is a form of natural selection as individuals who carry these genetic variations are surviving longer and passing them down to future generations.

Furthermore, it is possible that certain unknown environmental factors may be influencing the incidence of cancer. For instance, increasing rates of obesity have been linked to an increase in cancer cases. On the other hand, the significant decrease in smoking over the last half century has resulted in a significant decline in the number of cases.

One-Way

Younger patients have the advantage of being able to withstand higher amounts of chemotherapy compared to older patients. This means they can receive more intense treatment plans that have a better chance of eliminating any remaining cancer cells in their bodies. According to Prof Lawrence Young from Warwick University, younger individuals tend to have a higher survival rate for cancer. Additionally, if cancer is accidentally discovered during surgery for other medical conditions, it is usually caught at an earlier stage, making chemotherapy more successful. One-Way.

Beggs reports that the UK has not implemented advanced methods of detecting cancer in its population compared to other countries. He cites the example of bowel cancer, where individuals in the US or Europe would undergo a colonoscopy promptly upon showing symptoms, while those in the UK may experience significant delays. Beggs emphasizes the need for significant improvements in this area.

Source: theguardian.com