New cancer study reveals 79% surge in those under 50

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The latest cancer study, which has found a 79 per cent increase in new cases of cancer among those under 50 globally in just 30 years, is a wake-up call like no other to understand triggers, go for screening and adopt preventive lifestyle changes. And as the study across 200 countries, including India, shows, we already have a high burden of early onset breast cancer, oesophageal and prostate cancers.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?

The study, published in the British Medical Journal (Oncology), lists poor lifestyle choices, pollution and sedentary behaviour as the biggest triggers. Says Dr Amit Bhargava, Director, Medical Oncology, Fortis Cancer Institute, Vasant Kunj, “Most malignancies in all cancer literature are lifestyle-related. The early onset is directly linked to an early exposure to smoking, vaping, drinking, junk and processed foods (all of which have a lot of chemical involvement) increasing couch behaviour because of addiction to devices and low physical activity. So lifestyle triggers are largely multi-factorial. Other than that there are pollutants. We get a lot of sulphur, cadmium and industrial pollutants from the air, which are carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) and responsible for all kinds of malignancies and not just lung cancer. In fact, the study shows how our convenient food choices are increasing cancers all along the gastro-intestinal tract.”

That poor lifestyle choices are costing us is evident from the fact that 30 per cent of the young population is getting affected, says Dr MD Ray, Professor and Cancer Surgeon, AIIMS, Delhi. “There is an increased incidence in the less than 45 years age category. And since the study flags early onset breast cancer, the major culprit is estrogen, the hormone that has increased levels because of a sedentary lifestyle. Estrogen is the culprit behind a molecular dysfunction that directly alters a cell’s DNA. Family history increases the risk by 5-10 per cent. Controlling lifestyle and stress can keep the cells dormant. These days 20-22 year-old girls are reporting breast cancer. Almost 15-20 per cent of cancers I see are breast cancer cases,” he adds.