Incidence of cancer in young people: trends, types and prevention

Long considered to be a disease that mainly affects the elderly, cancers are increasingly affecting adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 15 to 39. A study conducted by Santé publique France, the French National Cancer Institute, the FRANCIM network of cancer registries and the Hospices Civils de Lyon shows that the incidence of cancer among young adults rose by 1.62% per year between 2000 and 2014, before declining slightly by 0.79% per year between 2015 and 2020. However, some cancers are still on the rise, requiring a better understanding of risk factors and a strengthening of prevention measures.

According to this study, 54,735 young people were diagnosed with cancer between 2000 and 2020 in the French départements studied. Among them, lymphomas, central nervous system tumours and sarcomas are most common in the 15-19 age group, while carcinomas and melanomas dominate in the 35-39 age group. These data underline the need for an approach tailored to each age group to improve prevention and screening.

Cancers on the rise among young people

1. Hodgkin's lymphoma

Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, has seen its incidence rise by 1.86% per year. This trend has also been observed in other European countries, particularly for the sclerodular form.

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What are the known causes of Hodgkin's lymphoma?

What are the typical symptoms of Hodgkin's lymphoma?

What are the most effective treatment options for Hodgkin's lymphoma?

2. Glioblastomas

These aggressive brain tumours are increasing at an alarming rate of 6.11% per year. Improved techniques for diagnosing and classifying tumours play a role in this trend, but do not entirely explain the increase. Research is needed to better understand the underlying causes.

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What are the common symptoms associated with glioblastoma?

How can targeted therapies improve the treatment of glioblastoma?

What are the latest advances in glioblastoma research?

3. Liposarcoma

Although rare, the incidence of liposarcoma, a cancer of fatty tissue, is rising by 3.68% a year. Molecular genetic advances in diagnosis could partly explain this increase, but the risk factors remain poorly identified.

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What are the main histological features of liposarcoma?

Which treatments are most effective for advanced liposarcoma?

4. Colorectal carcinomas

Once uncommon in young people, colorectal cancers are increasing at a rate of 1.43% per year. This increase could be linked to changes in lifestyle, particularly diet, a sedentary lifestyle and obesity. It is suspected that these factors encourage the development of these tumours.

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What are the risk factors associated with colorectal carcinoma?

What screening methods are recommended to detect colorectal carcinoma?

5. Breast carcinomas

Breast cancer, already a major cause of morbidity among women, is increasing by 1.60% a year among young adults. The influence of the hormonal environment, endocrine disruptors and lifestyle is being studied to explain this increase.

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What are the main types of breast carcinoma and what are their characteristics?

How do genetic factors influence the development of breast carcinomas?

6. Carcinomas of the kidney

Finally, kidney cancer is rising sharply, by 4.51% a year. Here again, obesity and environmental factors could play a key role in this worrying trend.

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What are the risk factors associated with renal cell carcinoma?

What are the most effective diagnostic methods for detecting renal cell carcinoma?

How can we better understand and prevent this?

This increase in cancers among young people raises many questions. Improved screening and diagnostic techniques may partly explain the rise in the number of cases recorded, but they do not entirely justify these trends. Environmental factors, lifestyle habits and genetic predisposition are currently being explored to better understand these trends.

Prevention and awareness

Prevention remains essential:

• Raising awareness of the risks
• Adopting a healthy lifestyle
• Vaccination against certain oncogenic infections such as HPV
• Access to regular medical check-ups

These actions could help to limit this worrying increase.

Conclusion

Although cancers in young people remain less frequent than in older people, their constant increase calls for increased vigilance. Research must continue in order to identify the causes of this rise and to enable more effective prevention. In the meantime, better information and targeted public health initiatives could help reverse this worrying trend.