A major international study has revealed that cancer incidence is rising among younger adults worldwide, with several major cancer types showing steady increases over the past two decades. The findings highlight shifting global health trends and the need for stronger prevention and early-detection efforts.
Rising Cancer Rates in Younger Adults
Researchers analyzed data from 42 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Australasia, using annual cancer statistics collected between 2003 and 2017 from the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s GLOBOCAN database. The study compared trends among adults aged 20 to 49 with those aged 50 and older, focusing on 13 cancers previously noted for increasing incidence in younger populations.
Colorectal Cancer Shows the Sharpest Age Divide
The results showed that in more than three-quarters of the countries studied, six cancer types had rising rates among younger adults: thyroid, breast, colorectal, kidney, endometrial, and leukemia. Thyroid cancer showed the steepest growth, with a median average annual percentage change (AAPC) of 3.57%. Colorectal cancer rose by 1.45%, kidney by 2.21%, endometrial by 1.66%, breast by 0.89%, and leukemia by 0.78%.
Older adults also experienced rising rates of most of these cancers, though the pace of increase was generally similar. Colorectal cancer was a notable exception, increasing faster among younger adults. In only about half of the countries studied did colorectal cancer rise among older adults, and in 69 percent of countries, younger adults saw greater annual increases than older populations.
By contrast, cancers of the liver, oral cavity, oesophagus, and stomach showed declining trends among younger adults in more than half of the nations studied.
Demand for Updated Screening and Prevention
The authors noted that most participating countries were high- and middle-income, so the results may not be fully representative of lower-income nations. Despite this limitation, the findings point to an important international health issue: younger individuals are increasingly affected by cancers once considered diseases of older age.
Researchers emphasized the importance of adapting screening, lifestyle interventions, and research priorities to address this shift. The study suggests that understanding the populations most affected and the underlying causes will be essential in reshaping cancer prevention and clinical strategies in the years ahead.
Reference
Berrington de Gonzalez A et al. Trends in cancer incidence in younger and older adults: an international comparative analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2025; doi: doi:10.7326/ANNALS-24-02718.
