[Petrochemicals (OP)]

In the news today, the number of UK cancer cases in under 50s is up 75 percent on 1990, yet the population is only up 17.5 percent. Coupled with that the lower smoking rates and healthier (?) lifestyles this is quite alarming.

[alancalverd]

Do you have a link to the source document?

It's easy to blame Margaret Thatcher for getting rid of school milk and compulsory exercise, and increasing the permitted filth in drinking water, but the most significant increase seems to be in breast cancer, arguably due to delayed first pregnancy and the need for women to pay for bankers' bonuses. 

[paul cotter]

Obesity and better detection increase numbers by different modalities.

[Petrochemicals (OP)]

Obesity and better detection increase numbers by different modalities.

But surely obesity is countered by lack of smoking and healthier food? I believe female drinking has vastly increaced though.

Detection is not a factor, the autopsy would note it.

[Petrochemicals (OP)]

Do you have a link to the source document?

It's easy to blame Margaret Thatcher for getting rid of school milk and compulsory exercise, and increasing the permitted filth in drinking water, but the most significant increase seems to be in breast cancer, arguably due to delayed first pregnancy and the need for women to pay for bankers' bonuses. 

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/cancer-cases-grow-by-79-in-young-people-as-alarming-study-suggests-key-reasons-12955418

Birth control pills? Pollution, radiation increaced chemical exposure?

[alancalverd]

I can't open the link, but the affected generation were all born in the Thatcher era. They were also the first generation in the UK never to feel cold, as central heating (and thus obesity) became the norm rather than the exception.

[Bored chemist]

I can't open the link, but the affected generation were all born in the Thatcher era. They were also the first generation in the UK never to feel cold, as central heating (and thus obesity) became the norm rather than the exception.

Does this link work?
https://news.sky.com/story/cancer-cases-grow-by-79-in-young-people-as-alarming-study-suggests-key-reasons-12955418

Among other things it says
"Researchers said that while genetics were likely to have contributed to the rise, smoking, alcohol consumption and diets high in meat and salt but low in fruit and milk were the "main risk factors".

Excess weight, low physical activity and high blood sugar were also found to have played a part."

[alancalverd]

The team behind the study analysed data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 Study for 29 cancers in 204 countries and regions.......

There were 1.8 million new cancer diagnoses for under-50s in 2019 - an increase of 79.1% since 1990 - with deaths also up by 27.7%.

So the statistics are meaningless.

For instance: the population of India has grown fairly linearly since 1970, from 400,000 to 1,400,000,000, childhood mortality and communicable disease incidence have declined, and diagnostic services have improved. So it's no surprise that the number of deaths in middle age from any diagnosis has increased between 1990 and 2019, and the fact that it is less than 300% is remarkable.

[Petrochemicals (OP)]

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/cancer-cases-grow-by-79-in-young-people-as-alarming-study-suggests-key-reasons-12955418

I can't open the link, but the affected generation were all born in the Thatcher era. They were also the first generation in the UK never to feel cold, as central heating (and thus obesity) became the norm rather than the exception.

Not really, in 1990 the octogenarians where 47?

As I repeatedly state factors in favour are lower smoking rates, vaccination for women in the form of the hppv vaccine, better awareness of sun danger.

Radiation, diet, even exercise are today far more poor though. I don't think it's central heating, more like the life styles, people where outraged at being told to wear a jumper last year! If you told my grandparents that they could pay 50 pounds a month to drive to a place and lift things or go running on a machine or cycling on a bike that goes nowhere and then drive home they would have the men in white coats around.

[Petrochemicals (OP)]

The team behind the study analysed data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 Study for 29 cancers in 204 countries and regions.......

There were 1.8 million new cancer diagnoses for under-50s in 2019 - an increase of 79.1% since 1990 - with deaths also up by 27.7%.

So the statistics are meaningless.

For instance: the population of India has grown fairly linearly since 1970, from 400,000 to 1,400,000,000, childhood mortality and communicable disease incidence have declined, and diagnostic services have improved. So it's no surprise that the number of deaths in middle age from any diagnosis has increased between 1990 and 2019, and the fact that it is less than 300% is remarkable.

Not really Alan, a 3.5 increace in populace but people living longer.

I don't know if you know, but the population of earth is getting out of control, it's due for one part to the population gaining longer lives, this is because they ain't dying in middle age.

[alancalverd]

In 1950, life expectancy at birth in India was 35. It is now70. So it's hardly surprising that the incidence of cancer in the under-50s has increased - they aren't dying of dysentery or malnutrition before they get to 40.

[alancalverd]

I don't think it's central heating, more like the life styles,

If I ask my age cohort what they most remember about childhood in Britain, it was being cold. Average calorie consumption in the UK has actually declined in the last 80 years, but average rate of heat loss has declined even quicker, so we get fat instead of burning food.