Health Correspondent
By Jolomi Igiehon
A Troubling Trend Emerges
A new global study has found a significant and troubling rise in cancer cases among individuals under the age of 50, with young women disproportionately affected. The research, published in the journal BMJ Oncology, analyzed cancer data across more than 200 countries and revealed that early-onset cancer rates have surged by nearly 80% in the past three decades, a trend that health experts say demands urgent public attention and further investigation.
According to the study, women accounted for the majority of new early-onset cancer diagnoses, with breast cancer being the most prevalent. Other common cancers among younger women include thyroid, colorectal, and cervical cancer. Researchers estimate that over 1 million women under 50 were diagnosed with some form of cancer globally in the past year alone.
Dr. Emily Zhao, an oncologist and co-author of the study, expressed deep concern over the findings. “We are seeing more and more women in their 30s and 40s walking through our doors with advanced cancers. This shift isn’t just anecdotal — the data is clear. Something is changing, and we need to understand why,” she said.
What’s Causing the Rise?
The study points to a complex mix of lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors as possible contributors to the increase in early-onset cancers. Modern diets high in processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, rising obesity rates, alcohol use, and hormonal influences are all cited as potential risk factors. Some researchers also highlight increased exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which may affect women’s reproductive health and cancer susceptibility.
“There isn’t one single cause,” said Dr. Alan Mensah, a public health researcher at the World Health Organization. “Rather, it’s an accumulation of changes in how people live, work, and eat — compounded by earlier and more frequent screening in some regions.”
While improved screening has played a role in detecting cancers earlier, experts say that doesn’t fully explain the rise. For instance, cancers like colorectal and thyroid are being diagnosed at higher rates in young women who don’t fall within traditional screening guidelines.
The study also revealed regional disparities, with the sharpest increases recorded in high-income nations, including the United States, the UK, and parts of Europe and Asia. However, lower- and middle-income countries are not far behind and may be underreporting cases due to limited healthcare infrastructure and diagnostic access.
Call for Action and Awareness
The findings have sparked calls for urgent revisions to current cancer screening guidelines, particularly for younger women. Medical professionals are also urging greater investment in research to identify early warning signs, develop targeted prevention strategies, and ensure equitable access to care.
“This study should be a wake-up call for both health policymakers and individuals,” said Dr. Zhao. “We need to start asking: How early should we begin cancer screening for women? What modifiable risk factors can we address now?”
Health advocates are also stressing the importance of public awareness campaigns, especially aimed at women under 50, to recognize early symptoms and take preventive action. These may include lifestyle modifications, regular medical checkups, and genetic counseling for those with a family history of cancer.
For young women like 35-year-old Olivia James, who was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer last year, the message is clear. “I had no idea someone my age could get breast cancer. If I had known the symptoms to watch for earlier, I might have caught it sooner,” she said.
As early-onset cancer continues to rise, particularly among women, the study serves as both a warning and an opportunity — to raise awareness, invest in prevention, and reshape how society thinks about cancer risk in younger generations.
