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Dr. David Leska - from the Cleveland Clinic Medical Foundation in the United States - stressed the need to increase awareness of symptoms, family health history, and differences in treatment methods for adolescents and young adults, in conjunction with the escalation of cancer diagnoses among those under the age of 50 around the world.

Research recently published by the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom showed that the number of new cases of cancer in individuals under the age of 50 has increased by 79% during the period between 1990 and 2019. The research also showed that deaths among these infected people increased by more than 27%.

Research forecasts indicate that more than one million people under the age of 50 die from cancer annually. Breast, trachea, lung, intestine and stomach cancer are responsible for the largest number of deaths.

Multiple factors

“Cleveland Clinic and other institutions globally are conducting research into the causes of the observed increase in cancer cases in among young people, and we believe that the reason behind this is multi-factorial.”

“Researchers have observed a birth cohort effect,” said Dr. Liska, who is also director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Colorectal Cancer in Young Adults, “who noted that individuals born in the decades since the 1950s had higher rates of cancer in their lifetime.” young people compared to those born in previous decades. This suggests that shared exposure to a number of specific factors in the environment may be linked to these growing risks, whether it is a change in dietary habits, the use of chemicals, or Any number of other factors.”

“We discovered differences in the gut microbiome, metabolism, and tumor immune microenvironment in young and elderly people who had the same cancer,” Liska continued. “Another consideration that was taken into account was that personal risk factors for cancer, such as obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, Being sedentary has become more widespread among this age group, and therefore it most likely contributes to exacerbating the problem.”

treatment

Regarding access to treatment, Dr. Liska pointed out that there is a need for a tailored approach to young patients; The biological nature of cancer, along with the psychological effects and long-term treatment, differs in young people compared to the elderly.

Dr. Liska explained that there is a team of experts at Cleveland Clinic that works closely with oncologists and surgeons to ensure that the needs of all young patients are met. He said, “There are unique factors facing young patients at their stages of life. For example, they may have children.” And/or they are caring for their elderly relatives, so the transition from being a caregiver to a person in need of care may be difficult from a financial and social standpoint, and this is where the role of psychologists and social workers becomes important.”

“Young patients also benefit from advice from healthcare experts, who can work with these young people to modify their diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits to support treatment and avoid complications related to cancer or treatment,” he added. And reduce the risk of cancer coming back.”

He continued, saying, "Finding a team of multidisciplinary specialists who are experienced in treating young cancer patients is of great importance, as the quality of treatment provided can significantly affect the results, not only in terms of survival levels for patients, but also “The quality of life after treatment is also important.”

Ways of prevention

"With regard to prevention, we recommend following a healthy lifestyle, which includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol consumption," Leska added.

He stated, “Early diagnosis is also important, as the earlier the cancer is discovered and treated, the better the results will be. Individuals should not ignore persistent and permanent symptoms, whatever their type, but rather they should talk about them with a doctor. They should also: “Individuals discuss any family history of cancer with their doctor, who can advise on the best timing for cancer screening, the frequency of screening, and whether individuals should undergo genetic testing.”

Source: German