Ultra-processed food? Forever chemicals? Declining birth rates? What’s behind rising cancer in the under-50s?

In 2022 , around 16% of the 20 million people with cancer worldwide were under 50 .

In 2019 , some of the most common cancers in under-50s were colorectal, breast and skin cancer.

The trend is particularly concerning in England , where rates seem to be rising faster than anywhere else in the world.

Rise in breast cancer in under-50s is not a new trend, but pattern is notable because it doesn’t seem to be accounted for by the usual risk factors for cancer, such as obesity.

One idea is that the rise in early-onset cases could be linked with a global decline in fertility because giving birth by a certain age and breastfeeding are thought to be protective against breast cancer.

Another explanation is exposure to “forever chemicals’, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances’.

UV radiation damages DNA, which in turn triggers genetic mutations that lead to abnormal protein function, turning cells cancerous.

Campaigns to educate the public on the dangers of UV have been around for decades .

People between the ages of 15 and 24 are less likely to use sunscreen and sun protection methods.