The rate of early cancers has significantly increased over the past two decades. In particular, colorectal cancer in individuals under 50 in the UK has risen from one case in every 26,000 people in 2001 to one case in every 12,000 people in 2023. These changes seem to reflect increased awareness, diagnosis, and treatment in hospitals.
Global Trend of Increasing Cancer
According to a report by the Global Cancer Research Foundation, the number of new cancer cases in the UK has increased for seven types of cancer. However, it is still unclear whether this increase represents a true rise in cases or is merely due to improvements in diagnosis and awareness of diseases. Amy Barrington de Gonzales, a professor of clinical epidemiology at the London Cancer Research Institute, emphasizes that cancer is still rare among young people, and tripling a small number still leaves it small.
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Statistics in Latin America
In a study conducted in 2025 analyzing registration data from 50 countries and territories up to 2017, an increase in colorectal cancer was observed in 27 regions including Chile, Argentina, and Ecuador. In Chile, the rate of increase has reached nearly 4% per year, one of the highest. In Brazil, the A.C. Camargo Cancer Center in São Paulo reported that the number of patients with colorectal cancer under 50 years old has increased by 7.6% per year from 2000 to 2023.
The largest increase in patients over 50 years old was observed at a rate of 8.1% or nearly six times. However, these figures were obtained from only one hospital and may not represent the overall increase in cases in Brazil. Amy Barrington de Gonzales has emphasized the need to improve cancer registration systems in countries like Brazil and Mexico, noting that obesity rates are also rising in these countries.
Causes and Consequences
Mark Gunter, a professor of cancer epidemiology at Imperial College London, believes that Latin America is facing changes in diet and lifestyle following wealthy countries. Studies show that six types of cancer, including thyroid, breast, and colorectal cancer, are increasing in the age groups of 20 to 49 years in many countries.
Colorectal cancer, in particular, is increasing in this age group, and in about one-third of the countries studied, this increase is occurring faster than in older individuals. This issue requires further research, as if cancer rates are rising in all age groups, the reasons are likely to be broader.
Various factors, including obesity, which is recognized as a known factor for at least 13 types of cancer, also play a role in this trend. According to a 2021 study, young people with obesity are nearly twice as likely as others to develop colorectal cancer before the age of 50.
Ultimately, Amy Barrington de Gonzales reassures young people that cancer at a young age remains relatively rare and that lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of developing cancer.
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