Even though the median age at which cancer is diagnosed is 66, the risk of the disease increases with age, new data shows that people under 50 are more likely to develop certain cancers. This revealed a worrying trend.
Cancer survivor Juliet Landgrave’s life changed forever when she discovered a lump in her breast at the age of 38.
“At the beginning of my journey, people told me I was too young to get cancer,” she said.
Now, what I’m curious about is new report A report released Tuesday by the Lennar Foundation Cancer Center of Orange County in the City of Hope found that cancer rates among 18- to 49-year-olds are now higher than they were before, due in part to increases in colorectal cancer and breast cancer. It was found that the number of children is rapidly increasing at a higher rate than the generation.
“Given current trends in colon cancer diagnoses in people under 50, colon cancer will become the leading cause of death among young people in the United States by 2030,” said Chief Physician Dr. Edward Kim. said. at City of Hope Orange County.
Perhaps even more alarming is that Orange County leads the Southern California region in that frightening statistic. National Cancer Institute.
Last year alone, 18% of cancer patients treated at City of Hope were under the age of 50.
“To be honest, I had to take time off from the office because I had to give bad news to three patients in their early 30s in a row, which was a first for me, to be honest.” said Dr. Amanda Schwer, a radiation oncologist with Hope Orange County. .
Health experts are now stressing the importance of not only getting tested regularly but also recognizing the symptoms.
Cancer screening is currently recommended for young people aged 40 and older and even earlier for people in at-risk communities.
As for Landgrave, she says it’s essential for young women to stay vigilant about their health.
“To all the women in our community, please perform regular self-breast exams,” she said.
Although Orange County is outperforming other counties in the region, cancer diagnosis rates are still lower than the national average, KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo reports.