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Cancer in young people is rising and 2023 saw a plan to figure out why

Most people with cancer are over 50, but the past few decades have seen a rise in diagnoses for younger people. This year, the US National Cancer Institute and Cancer Research UK made finding out why one of their top priorities

By Clare Wilson

13 December 2023

Close up image of a selection of freshly flame grilled burgers in a row on a wooden counter at a London street food market. Each of the burgers has its own label, on which is written the contents of the burger. The burgers are sandwiched between glazed buns, and presented on beds of fresh green lettuce and stuffed with melted cheese and red onion. Horizontal colour image with copy space and beautiful bokeh background.

Changing diets may be one explanation for a rise in early-onset cancer

Coldsnowstorm/Getty Images

Researchers called this year for an urgent need to understand the rising rates of cancer in people under the age of 50, saying we must finally get to grips with this growing problem.

Over the past few decades, the number of diagnoses for those early-onset cases – so-called because most tumours are diagnosed in people over 50 – has been rising in multiple cancer types, including those of the breast and prostate.

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The rise in cases of early-onset…

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