Early Onset Cancer Rates Surge in Young Adults

Early onset cancers among adults under 50 are rising sharply in Australia and the US, with a notable 185% increase in colon cancer among 20-24 year-olds and significant jumps in prostate, pancreatic, and other cancers in the 30-39 age group. Experts say delayed diagnosis and lack of screening contribute to more advanced, harder-to-treat cases in younger populations. While better diagnostics explain some of the increase, most of the surge remains unexplained and points to a growing generational risk for Gen X and millennials. Calls for earlier screening, improved detection, and urgent preventive public health strategies are intensifying. Meanwhile, misinformation about cancer risks—such as claims that UV exposure is safe—spreads online despite medical evidence of UV’s link to skin cancer and thousands of deaths each year. The global rise in early onset cancers is prompting urgent research and intervention efforts.