Cancers rising in under 50’s. Do we have any sensible hypothesis as to why?

[ThatPeachSnake]

Ultra Processsed Foods? Drinking? I feel like we don’t smoke as much as previous generations…

I’m so very worried

I was diagnosed with mesothelioma (caused by asbestos) a few years back. I'm 30 this year.

Yep!

My lifestyle had nothing to do with the asbestos fibres I seemingly ingested!

I think Pesticides could be a big contributing factor, and would explain why those who eat a healthy diet still get cancers.

The following info is from Pesticide Action Network UK and details the toxic residues that are still on our food when they arrive at the supermarket - many of which cannot be washed off because they are absorbed into the flesh of the fruit or veg:

"The prevalence of pesticide cocktails in our food appears to be rising, with this year’s results the worst since PAN UK began its analysis in 2018.
Specifically:

• Since 2018, the percentage of all food tested containing multiple pesticide residues has never exceeded 32.5%, but this year jumped to 39%.
• The total percentage of fruit and vegetables containing multiple pesticides residues has never exceeded 48%, but this year rose to 53%.
• Apples containing multiple pesticide residues has increased from 44% in 2018 to 60% in 2019 to 72% this year (apples were not tested in other years).
• Spinach containing multiple pesticide residues has increased from 57% in 2019 to 73% this year (spinach was not tested in other years).

* * Our analysis found a total of 134 different pesticide residues across all produce, 50% of which are classified as ‘Highly Hazardous Pesticides’ – a UN concept used to identify pesticides with high potential to cause harm. Specifically, the produce tested by the government contained:

• 45 carcinogens which are capable of causing different types of cancer.
• 25 endocrine disruptors (EDCs) which can interfere with hormone systems and cause birth defects, developmental disorders and reproductive problems such as infertility.
• 14 ‘developmental or reproductive toxins’ which can have adverse effects on sexual function and fertility and cause miscarriages.
• 10 cholinesterase inhibitors that reduce the ability of nerve cells to pass information to each other and can impair the respiratory system and cause confusion, headaches and weakness.

The ‘cocktail effect’ has long-been recognised as an area of concern in the UK. Despite this, little has been done to understand or prevent the human health impacts that may occur due to long-term exposure to pesticide cocktails. * * Residue Results 2022 Peaches/Nectarines 85% Grapes 84% Strawberry 83% Cherries 81% Spinach 73% Apples 72% Brussel Sprouts 50% Cucumber 47% Tomato 46% Apricots 43% Lettuce 39% Beans with pods 38%

So, we are all eating this fruit and veg daily, thinking it's good for us, when it has toxic residue on it. How can this be allowed? And is it a coincidence that this is on the rise since we left the EU - are the rules less stringent now? I mean, I understand why farmers use pesticides, but would they dip a spoon into a vat of pesticide and eat it? No, because it's poison. So why is it okay to spray it directly onto the food we eat?

So sorry, that's totally unfair. And reading pious comments from people who think people with cancer have brought it upon themselves must be horrible

Equally all sorts of people get MND. And there is a genetic component too. And possible links to pollutants

Two of my family members got it. Both lived next to agricultural fields where farmers sprayed all sorts over the year. Two other family members who lived there got other neurological condition s.

This is a tough read isn't it.

I try to be really healthy just because I think it is good for me, not because I think it will make me invincible. And No doubt it I get cancer judgy people will enjoy deciding it was my fault for some reason

But between pesticides (which get into water sources too) and air pollution, it's all around all of us.

All the young adults I know who got cancer were really healthy, not in an obsessive way just in a taking care of themselves way. Life is cruel and uncertain. And made more so by a capitalist and consumerist economy that churns out pollutants none of us can avoid

I'm glad that few of your friends have cancer, but that doesn't outweigh the overall stats from a wide range of reputable research. It is still pretty rare in the under 50s, but there's no doubt whatsoever that rates are increasing in this age group.

That information on pesticides is really interesting. A few years ago I read that strawberries were one of the healthiest things you can eat (in a book about anti-aging). Since then I have increased how many I ate, as they are something I really like too. Then last week, I read that they are one of the foods most likely to contain microplastics. It is not always straightforward to know what is healthy.

I think they just read it from online news.

Yes, it's 2024 and most people do get most of their news from online sources nowadays.
It doesn't make the sources invalid, any more than the Daily Star becomes a valid news source if you read the printed version.
https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2024/06/03/cancer-rates-rising-in-under-50s-early-onset-24-percent-increase/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CEvidence%2520suggests%2520that%2520more%2520adults,1995%2520to%2520164.6%2520in%25202019.

https://bmjgroup.com/global-surge-in-cancers-among-the-under-50s-over-past-three-decades/

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/05/cancer-cases-in-under-50s-worldwide-up-nearly-80-in-three-decades-study-finds

'So sorry, that's totally unfair. And reading pious comments from people who think people with cancer have brought it upon themselves must be horrible'

@CassandraWebb

Thank you for your kind words. ❤️
It's frustrating to say the least. Yes a lot of lifestyle choices can contribute of course. But we're not all out here living sedentary lives.
I didn't make the asbestos fall into my stomach to cause me to have an incurable cancer. There's so much more advanced tech and medicine these days, so that will help 'worsen' the stars for want for a better word

This thread is interesting to read though!

I have read several cases of young people being diagnosed with late stage bowel cancer here - not in the UK. Each article mentioned doctors saying how it was more common to see young people with the disease now, and how they find it shocking, but have no answers as to why.

I think if you did a little bit of research you could answer your own question.

People have always eaten red meat, processed meat, and consumed dairy. What do you think they used to eat?

It's a worldwide trend being studied by researchers in multiple countries.

Rosenberg and his team used data from 3.8 million people diagnosed with malignant cancer in the U.S. from 1992 until 2018 to compare cancer rates for members of Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) and Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964). He then ran modeling that shows that when Gen-Xers turn 60 years old (starting in 2025), they are more likely to be diagnosed with invasive cancer than Boomers were at age 60.

In fact, cancer is more likely to hit Gen-Xers than any prior generation born from 1908 through 1964, the study’s projections found.

Gen X cancer rates projected to outpace Boomers : Shots - Health News : NPR

That's me fucked then, I've had over 50 courses!

The use of pesticides is unavoidable due to no one wanting slugs on their lettuce or aphid eggs on their cabbage.
I garden and have seen me picking green caterpillars off the broccoli and more from the cooking water once it was cooked (out of sight of the DCs).
Going organic is the best option imv.

But we do want and expect a varied diet - growing up in the 50/60s carrot was the veg with your meal and cabbage once a week. Strawberries were home grown in the summer.
Salad was the traditional lettuce cucumber and tomato and sliced boiled egg and ham. Less exotic variety probably meant less insecticides. Though slug pellets were used and occasional spray but as the veg suited the climate I would guess less (or less of them had been developed) neededthan now.