More than one million people under 50 die of cancer every year and this number is projected to rise by a further 21% by 2030, according to the largest study of its kind to date.
The number of people under 50 diagnosed with cancer worldwide has increased by nearly 80% in 30 years, according to a recent study published in the journal BMJ Oncology.
Worldwide, the number of early-stage cancers has increased from 1.82 million in 1990 to 3.26 million in 2019, while cancer deaths in adults aged 40, 30 or younger have increased by 27%. More than one million people under 50 die of cancer every year, according to the research.
Experts say poor diet, alcohol and tobacco consumption, physical inactivity and obesity are among the likely reasons behind the rise in cases.
“Since 1990, the incidence and mortality of early-stage cancers has increased significantly worldwide,” the report says. “Encouraging healthy lifestyles, including healthy eating, limiting tobacco and alcohol consumption, and adequate outdoor physical activity, could reduce the burden of early-onset cancers.”
In this study, the researchers analysed data from 204 countries, covering 29 cancer types, looking at new cases, deaths, health outcomes and contributing risk factors for all age groups between 14 and 49 years.
In 2019, the number of new cancer diagnoses among people aged under 50 was 3.26 million, an increase of 79% compared to 1990. Breast cancer caused the highest number of cases and related deaths, 13.7 and 3.5 cases per 100 000 population worldwide, respectively.
The rates of early-stage cancer in 2019 were highest in North America, Oceania and Western Europe. Low- and middle-income countries were also affected, with Oceania, Eastern Europe and Central Asia having the highest death rates among people under 50.
By 2030, the number of new early-onset cancers and related deaths worldwide will rise by a further 31% and 21% respectively, with people in their 40s at greatest risk, based on trends over the past three decades, researchers estimate.