Older brotherIn recent years, experts have noted that many young people with well-proportioned bodies and healthy lifestyles still get cancer, the cause of which is considered an “unsolved mystery”.
According to Cancer Research UK (CRUK), more than 375,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year, equivalent to 1,000 cases every day. Of these 1,000 patients, 100 are under the age of 50. Breast, prostate, lung and bowel cancers account for the majority of new cancer diagnoses.
The most noticeable increase is in colon cancer. The number of cases has increased by 50% in people in their 20s, 30s and 40s over the past 30 years. Previously, many scientists believed that obesity and fast food habits affected the digestive system, thereby increasing the risk of cancer.
However, this theory does not fit the reality that young, healthy people with stable lifestyles also get sick. Molly Guinness, a producer at BBC Radio 4, was recently diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 39. In a post on X, she shared that she had a healthy diet and a slim figure.
“I looked around the waiting room in the colorectal department, and everyone I saw had a healthy body mass index (BMI),” she said.
Guinness is not the only one to recognize this condition. Deborah James, who lives in the UK, was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 35. She donated millions of dollars to charity in her final days in 2022. James had a strict exercise routine and was in good health until she developed the disease.
Another example is Zu Rafalat, from Finsbury Park, London, who died in 2020 at the age of 39. She developed what appeared to be a stomach ache in December 2018. Just two weeks later, her abdomen was so distended that she had to wear maternity pants. A CT scan revealed a tumour on her right ovary. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, which had spread to other organs.
“I have been healthy all my life, I never thought I could get cancer at such a young age,” she said.
Evan White was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 24 when he went to the hospital for tonsillitis. Photo: Daily Mail
Several recent studies have suggested that eating junk food or processed foods may cause colon cancer. A Singapore analysis found that methylglyoxal, a compound released when the body breaks down foods containing sugar and fat, may affect a tumor-fighting gene, increasing the risk of cancer. A 2023 study in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition also found a link between eating processed foods and certain cancers.
However, not all experts believe the explanation is so simple. According to Professor Karol Sikora, a renowned oncologist with 40 years of experience, the change in lifestyle of the global population over the past 50 years may have an impact on cancer rates.
“The disease does not seem to be related to obesity. The rate of cancer among vegetarians is still increasing, this is a mystery,” he said.
His hypothesis is that the gut microbiome in young people is the cause of increased risk of early cancer. He believes that a healthy microbiome is essential to prevent colon cancer, because intestinal cells are “bathed” in bacterial products 24/7.
“Thus, it would not be surprising if changes in the microbiome result in higher or lower rates of colon cancer,” he said.
Some bacteria in the gut can aid digestion and prevent other harmful bacteria from taking root. However, experts say analyzing them is too complicated because it involves many factors such as diet, alcohol consumption and daily activities.
According to Dr Hendrik-Tobias Arkenau, of HCA Healthcare, the reasons behind this are unclear. His hypothesis is that antibiotic use in childhood, reduced breastfeeding rates, vitamin intake and dietary changes all play a role. Overall, the scientific community is still racing to solve this mystery, thereby providing advice and treatment protocols.
In the meantime, the advice is that people should practice a healthy lifestyle, eat a reasonable diet, limit tobacco and alcohol consumption, increase outdoor activities, and have regular cancer screenings.