More Young Adults Are Being Diagnosed with Cancer
Johannesburg– Cancer has long been viewed as a disease of ageing, but new data shows a concerning shift. Increasingly, people under the age of 50 are being diagnosed, which was considered rare in this age group. Many of these cancers are appearing without warning, without family history, and often at advanced stages because symptoms are unexpected and overlooked.
“We are seeing more of the disease in people under 50 than ever before,” said Vanessa Snow, Head of Medical Affairs at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine South Africa. “It is no longer an outlier occurrence. It is becoming more frequent, and the patients are younger, often in their thirties or early forties.”
Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed amongst women globally and is now growing in instance in younger age groups. This rise is occurring at a pace that demands attention. “Globally, and in South Africa, the number of breast cancer cases in women under 40 is on an upward trajectory,” Snow said.
Colorectal cancer is showing the same concerning pattern. “What used to be considered a middle-aged diagnosis is now happening in people in their 20s and 30s,” said Snow. “Many around the world only consult healthcare professionals when they are already in the late stage, because it is just not something they expected at that age”. In South Africa, the University of Cape Town reported that nearly 25 percent of colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed in people under 50, with a large portion of those under 40. “And these are not isolated incidents,” Snow said. “They are appearing more regularly, especially among young Black South Africans, and often without any known genetic risk,” Snow noted that this growing pattern reflects a serious shift in disease burden, making increased awareness among newly affected groups critical for earlier intervention.
Lauren Pretorius, CEO of Campaigning for Cancer, stressed the importance of awareness among younger men, noting that testicular cancer remains one of the most significant health threats in this age group. According to the American Cancer Society, the lifetime risk of testicular cancer is approximately one in every 250 men, and the disease is most commonly diagnosed in younger men, particularly those aged 20 to 40. National and international data show that only about 6% of cases occur in males 19 or younger, while roughly 8% occur in men over 55, with the majority presenting within the younger adult population. “It is more important than ever for young men to understand their risks and pay attention to changes in their bodies,” Pretorius noted.
Beyond these well-recognised cancers, other types traditionally associated with older age are also rising among younger adults. Snow noted that pancreatic cancer, previously seen predominantly in older population groups, is increasingly being diagnosed in younger adults. “It is no longer unusual to see pancreatic cancer in patients in their twenties and thirties,” she said. Kidney, thyroid and stomach cancers are also being diagnosed more often in people under 50, and the same upward trajectory is being observed in certain blood cancers, including B-cell lymphomas and plasma cell neoplasms. These trends are echoed in global epidemiological studies, which show that these cancers are among the fourteen types increasing most rapidly in younger populations.
Snow explained that the rise of these cancers in younger groups is not coincidental. “We are seeing a greater impact of diet, obesity, poor sleep, inactivity and higher stress levels in people at younger ages than in the past,” she said. “Smoking and alcohol use are starting earlier, and we are exposed to more environmental toxins whether or not we are aware of it.” She added that some cancers are now being picked up incidentally during imaging for unrelated issues, raising questions about how long they may have gone undetected.
Another challenge is that most screening guidelines still focus primarily on older adults. According to Snow, this gap is costing lives.
“Cancer is not being detected early enough because we are not looking for it,” she said. “When someone under 40 presents with unusual symptoms, it is still common for healthcare providers to attribute them to something benign. By the time testing is done, the cancer has advanced. The profile of cancer is changing, and our clinical and public health responses must evolve with it,” she said.
Pretorius reinforced this message. “Persistent or unexplained changes in the body should never be ignored,” she said. “As cancer becomes more common in younger adults, it has never been more important for people to stay informed and responsive to what their bodies are telling them. This growing shift in cancer patterns underscores the need for vigilance among younger adults, because understanding the warning signs and seeking medical advice early can save lives. If something doesn’t feel right, trust yourself and get it checked.”
