Rates of several cancers have risen among adults under 50 in England, prompting calls for more research into why younger people are being affected.
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) compared NHS diagnosis data for 2001 and 2023. Its findings, reported by Sky News, show increases in bowel, breast, prostate, womb, kidney, liver and pancreatic cancer rates in this age group.
Bowel cancer diagnoses rose from 3.9 to 8.4 per 100,000 adults under 50. Kidney cancer rates doubled from 1.5 to three per 100,000.
Among men under 50, prostate cancer rates increased from one to 3.6 per 100,000. Among women under 50, womb cancer rates rose from 1.8 to 3.9 per 100,000, while breast cancer rates increased from 42 to 47.5.
Dr Giota Mitrou, WCRF's executive director of research and policy, described the trajectory as "concerning" and called for prevention and research to be prioritised.
Cancer remains more common in older adults
WCRF emphasises that these increases do not mean cancer is now common among young people. Age remains the biggest overall risk factor, and cancer is still diagnosed much more often in older adults.
The causes of the changes are not yet fully understood. Researchers are examining several possible influences, including diet, excess weight, physical activity, environmental exposures and changes to gut bacteria. Better awareness and diagnosis may also contribute, but the charity says improved detection alone cannot explain every increase.
The England figures are rates within the under-50 population, rather than measures adjusted for changes in its age composition. They describe diagnosis trends and do not establish a single cause.
Younger adults urged to check persistent changes
NHS national medical director Professor Frankie Swords urged people to contact their GP practice about a new lump, unusual bleeding, unexplained weight loss or another persistent change that is not normal for them, ITV News reported.
Her message was that younger adults should not delay seeking advice because they believe they are too young to have cancer.
