More Young People Than Ever Will Get Colorectal Cancer This Year
New York TimesMar 27
Study: Young Adult Bowel Cancer Rising Worldwide
Above: A patient recovering from surgery. Image copyright: Unsplash
The Facts
A new study published in the Lancet Oncology revealed increasing rates of bowel cancer among adults aged 25 to 49 across 27 of 50 countries examined through 2017.
England showed one of the highest annual increases at 3.59%, following Puerto Rico (3.81%), Chile (3.96%), and New Zealand (3.97%) in the decade leading up to 2017.
The Spin
Narrative A
The rise in bowel cancer among young people is fueled by diets high in ultra-processed and sugary foods, which trigger chronic inflammation and weaken the immune system. Lifestyle factors, environmental toxins, and changes in gut microbiomes also contribute. To combat this, young people should prioritize healthy, unprocessed foods, stay active, recognize symptoms like rectal bleeding early, and advocate for earlier screenings.
Narrative B
While media attention on food's link to cancer is progress, the US medical system — which is bought off by food and drug companies — continues to promote treatment over prevention in its standard of care guidelines. Rooted in outdated policies like the Flexner Report, the system favors pharmaceuticals over holistic health and nutrition. While many countries have a good chance of fixing this problem, those influenced by the US establishment are still stuck.
Metaculus Prediction
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