This study focused on the rising trend in early-onset cancers, defined as cancers diagnosed in individuals under 50 years, across the United States from 2010 to 2019. Utilizing data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries, researchers found an increase in the age-standardized incidence rates of these cancers overall, with significant growth in cases among females, while rates in males declined. The data encompassed 562,145 patients, with the highest number of early-onset cases found in breast cancer, yet it was gastrointestinal cancers that exhibited the fastest growth in incidence rates.

The findings highlight a concerning trend of increasing early-onset cancer rates, particularly gastrointestinal cancers, with the highest rises noted in cancers of the appendix, intrahepatic bile duct, and pancreas. This upswing calls for a strategic focus on developing targeted surveillance and refining funding priorities to address the rising prevalence of early-onset cancers effectively. These observations underline the need for heightened awareness and potentially earlier screening protocols to manage the burgeoning risk in younger populations effectively.

Reference: Koh B, Tan DJH, Ng CH, et al. Patterns in Cancer Incidence Among People Younger Than 50 Years in the US, 2010 to 2019. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(8):e2328171. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.28171.