A recent investigation into the growing trend of cancer among individuals under 50 unveils a complex interplay of factors that may be responsible.
Heidi Ledford reports for Nature.
In short:
- Global statistics reveal a worrying increase in early-onset cancers, with a predicted 30% rise in cases by 2030.
- Researchers are examining potential causes, including obesity, genetics, and environmental factors, but the exact reasons remain elusive.
- Efforts are underway to improve early detection and understand the impact of lifestyle and prenatal exposures on cancer risk.
Key quote:
"If it had been a single smoking gun, our studies would have at least pointed to one factor."
— Sonia Kupfer, gastroenterologist at the University of Chicago in Illinois
Why this matters:
A clear, singular cause of the rise in early-onset cancers remains elusive. Researchers suggest that a combination of factors is likely responsible.
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