Kate Middleton's diagnosis comes amid early cancer 'epidemic'

Health

By Tracy Schwartz

Kate Middleton revealed on Friday that she is battling cancer after recent stomach surgery – and now, oncologists are warning of an increase in some cancers among younger people.

“Nowadays younger people (under 50) are getting cancer,” said Dr Sivan Sivakumar, associate professor of oncology at the University of Birmingham in the UK. told the Telegraph last week.

“The reason for this is unknown, but we are seeing more and more patients getting stomach cancer,” Sivakumar added.

It's not just stomach cancer – Colon cancer rates are on the rise Among U.S. adults younger than age 55. A study Published last year in BMJ Oncology A 79% increase in the global incidence of early cancer and a 27% increase in early cancer deaths were found between 1990 and 2019.

Breast, trachea, bronchus, lung, colon and stomach cancers accounted for the most morbidity and mortality in younger people in 2019, the researchers noted, blaming poor diet, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, physical inactivity and excess body fat.

Faculty members at Harvard Medical School went so far as to refer to early cancer as an “emerging global epidemic.” In 2022 research.

Middleton, 42, did not specify what type of cancer she had, but tests following her “major abdominal surgery” in January “diagnosed cancer”.

“My medical team advised that I undergo a course of preventive chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” Middleton shared.

Andrew Becks, consultant colon surgeon and senior clinical fellow at the University of Birmingham, told The Telegraph that the diagnosis must have hit the royal family “like a bus”.

“When I started as a cancer surgeon 20 years ago, you rarely saw any young patients, but now I see them all the time,” said Becks, who runs a clinic for cancer patients under 45.

“When they come back they are shocked because they often have no symptoms and because of their age they don't think about cancer,” she added.

The Telegraph spoke to researchers who have speculated about possible causes of the development of certain cancers, including genetic factors and changes in the gut microbiome.

Dr. Veda Giriis a clinical oncologist at Yale Medicine and director of the Yale Cancer Center Early Cancer Program at Smilo Cancer HospitalThe prevalence of early-stage cancer “points to the need for more research in all kinds of domains — population science, behavioral health, public health and basic science,” he said this month.

“So, right now, we're focusing on providing extra support to these younger patients, recognizing that early cancer is a different kind of cancer.” she explained.

Experts say the Princess of Wales's public visit Encourage the youth To get tested – this leads to more documented cases of cancer.

A Texas man diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer in 2021 said he was inspired by “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman, who died of colon cancer in 2020 at the age of 43.

“Chadwick Boseman Raises Awareness,” Randall D. Hardy told his local ABC station in 2022. “Me too. Through it I saw how he was so wonderful. It shows how you can find the strength to move forward and do the right things in such a situation.

“The Newsroom” actress Olivia Munn, 43, recently revealed her breast cancer diagnosis and double mastectomy, crediting her doctor for conducting a cancer risk assessment.

“She saved my life,” Moon wrote in an Instagram post this month.