Till a few years ago, cancer was usually thought to be affecting people over the age of 50. However, due to changes in lifestyle and diets, this dreaded disease has become increasingly prevalent in youngsters. According to recent studies, Gen X and millennial Americans are at a higher risk of developing at least 17 cancers as compared to older generations, which include colon cancer – the rate of which has spiked by 15 per cent in adults 18-44 years old over the last 20 years.
“So many of my patients were told they were too young to worry about colorectal cancer,” Dr. Elena Stoffel, a University of Michigan professor of gastroenterology, told the New York Post. “But we all know nobody’s ever too young for cancer,” she added.
University of Michigan physicians are now sharing five important yet easy ways that can help reduce your risk of early-onset cancer. A few of these are: Stop smoking According to the World Health Organisation, there are more than 1.25 billion tobacco users across the world, with many getting cancers in their lifetimes.
Smoking is responsible for 20 per cent of the US cancer cases and almost 30 per cent of deaths. Due to excessive smoking, lung cancer cases and deaths are now expected to grow significantly in the next 25 years. And so, studies say most lung cancer deaths worldwide could be prevented over 70 years by banning the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to Gen Zers born between 2006 and 2010.
Eat healthy foods According to s.