Kate’s, the Princess of Wales, diagnosis of cancer at the young age of 42 years has caught many by surprise, but it is part of a startling growing trend. A medical oncologist weighs in on the recent trend of more cancer being diagnosed in younger demographics. It is part of a frightening trend of an uptick of cancer diagnoses for 50 year olds and under population that everyone needs to be aware of as they manage their own health. Please read the article below written by a medical oncologist for a more in depth look at the studies being done to determine why we are seeing this trend.
Early-onset cancer, which is defined as happening in adults under 50 years of age, is no anomaly. In fact, it is part of a rising global trend in which newly diagnosed cancer patients are getting younger. Further, it deflates the myth that cancer is the preserve of older people.
During the past week alone, I saw a 37-year-old with breast cancer that had already metastasized to her lymph nodes, bones, lung and liver. In the room next door was a 45-year-old with colon cancer that had spread so diffusely throughout the liver that it had become packed and enlarged with the tumors. Both patients had stage IV cancers that can potentially be controlled for a finite time but are no longer curable. Click here to read more.