Insight

Shikha Jain: Discussing the increase we are seeing in young adults with new cancer diagnoses

Photo of Shikha Jain from impact4hc.com

Nov 5, 2023, 19:15

Shikha Jain: Discussing the increase we are seeing in young adults with new cancer diagnoses

Shikha Jain shared on LinkedIn:

“On NewsNation this morning discussing the increase we are seeing in young adults with new cancer diagnoses.

A study of 17 NCI registries looked at over 500,000 cases of early-onset cancer, or cancers diagnosed in patients under age 50, between 2010 and 2019. They found that overall, early-onset cancers increased over that decade, by an average of 0.28% each year. The highest numbers of early-onset cases diagnosed in 2019 were breast (12,649 cases), thyroid (5,869) and colorectal cancers (4,097).

There are many reasons for why this could be.

* Better screening imaging and modalities
* More young people getting mammograms starting at 40 and colonoscopies starting at 45 (talk to your doctor, you may already be due!) and even earlier for those with other risk factors and/or family history
* Diet and more sedentary lifestyles. There have been links to obesity and many different cancers.
* An increase in alcohol consumption.
* Processed foods consumption.
* Environmental factors.

Cancer used to be seen predominantly in those over 50, but we are definitely seeing an increase in those under 50.

So what can you do!?

* Make sure you see your primary care doctor at least once a year
* For women, make sure you are having regular gynecologic exams and mammograms as recommended by your dr
* Don’t ignore red flags, e.g. blood in your stool, unintentional weight loss, fatigue that does not improve, an abnormal growth/lump that does not go away after a few days. Don’t delay and make sure you set up an appointment with your dr.
* Stay up to date on your vaccines! The HPV vaccine can prevent cancer of the vagina, vulva, penis or anus caused by HPV and also protects against mouth, throat, head and neck cancers caused by HPV
*Wear sunscreen!”

To watch the video click here.
Source: Shikha Jain/LinkedIn.

Shikha Jain is an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Illinois Cancer Center in Chicago. She is the Director of Communication Strategies in Medicine and the Associate Director of Oncology Communication & Digital Innovation. She is a founder and Chair of the Women In Medicine Summit, and founder and President of the Women in Medicine® non-profit. She is the co-founder of the Rush Center for the Advancement of Women in Health Care. Dr. Jain was named a Rising Star in Medicine by Medscape in 2020 and one of Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Emerging Leaders in 2019, and was also awarded the Rising Star award by the LEAD Oncology Conference in 2019 and nominated in in 2020 as a Women Leader in Oncology.