Decoding 11 Cancers

Eleven cancers are becoming more common in young people in England, a major analysis shows. 11 Cancers has emerged this Saturday as one of the stories drawing attention in United Kingdom.

Key facts

• Eleven cancers are becoming more common in young people in England, a major analysis shows.
• Bowel and breast cancers are the most common in younger adults, with a combined 11,500 cases a year, while pancreatic and gall bladders are much rarer.
• It is estimated that nearly 40% of cancers worldwide can be prevented with lifestyle choices like not smoking.
• Seven million cancers a year are preventable, says reportPublished3 February.
• Seven million cancers a year are preventable, says report.

What we know

Going deeper, Bowel and breast cancers are the most common in younger adults, with a combined 11,500 cases a year, while pancreatic and gall bladders are much rarer.

On the substance, it is estimated that nearly 40% of cancers worldwide can be prevented with lifestyle choices like not smoking.

Beyond the headlines, Seven million cancers a year are preventable, says reportPublished3 February.

More precisely, Seven million cancers a year are preventable, says report.

It is worth noting that Excess weight was associated with 10 of the cancers identified, including thyroid, kidney and pancreatic cancer, with oral cancer being the only exception.

By the numbers

At this stage, Maintaining a healthy weight could prevent about 20% of bowel cancers, 35% of endometrial cancers and 27% of kidney cancers, according to the researchers.

On a related note, why cancer has been increasing in people's late teens, 20s, 30s and 40s has been puzzling scientists for years.

Going deeper, Bradley Coombes, from Portsmouth, was just 23 when he died from bowel cancer.

On the substance, Century-old tumours could reveal why more young people are getting bowel cancerPublished7 January.

The wider context

On a related note, Researchers stress that simple lifestyle changes can still significantly reduce the risk of cancer.

Going deeper, they showed that as well as bowel cancer; thyroid, multiple myeloma, liver, kidney, gallbladder, pancreatic, womb lining (or endometrial), mouth, breast and ovarian cancers were increasing.

On the substance, Only bowel and ovarian cancers were increasing exclusively in the young, with the other nine increasing in older adults too.

Beyond the headlines, the researchers say it's important to prevent all cancers, not just the "extra" ones.

More precisely, it is very worrisome to hear the news that cancers are increasing in young people," Prof Montserrat García Closas, from The Institute of Cancer Research, told the BBC.

The bottom line

• It is estimated that nearly 40% of cancers worldwide can be prevented with lifestyle choices like not smoking.
• They showed that as well as bowel cancer; thyroid, multiple myeloma, liver, kidney, gallbladder, pancreatic, womb lining (or endometrial), mouth, breast and ovarian cancers were increasing.
• The researchers say it's important to prevent all cancers, not just the "extra" ones.