During last year’s annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, speakers warned of an increased rate of colorectal cancer cases among adults under 40 years.

According to the experts, the number of cases is expected to double by 2030 and is likely to become the leading cause of cancer deaths for adults in the age bracket 20 to 49.

Dr. Dimitra Lamprinaki, a researcher at Quadram Institute in Norwich stated that there has been an increase in early-onset colorectal cancer. Stressing that cases are often asymptomatic and younger people often ignore the early signs until it is too late to be removed.

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Possible cause of increased cancer rates among younger adults.

1. Oral Sex

Certain Viruses have been linked to contributing to a higher increase in cancer among people in the age bracket 40 to 49 years, mouth cancers being a major part of these cases.

For example in the UK cases of mouth cancer have seen a rapid increase and half the reported cancer cases have been linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) which is a sexually transmitted virus contracted usually through oral sex.

Multiple sexual partners make it even worse.

A study in the journal Cancer highlighted deep kissing heightened the risk of HPV transmission.

2. Poor Oral Hygiene and Vaping Among Younger People.

Vaping hinders blood flow to the gums, increasing vulnerability to infections and impeding the healing process.

The growth of a particular bacteria strain, Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), is promoted by these conditions. F. nucleatum has been linked to various cancers such as breast, colorectal, and head and neck cancers.

Fusobacterium is described as a sticky bacteria that attaches to teeth and gums, facilitating the entry of other harmful bacteria.

Poor oral hygiene allows these bacteria to multiply, enter the bloodstream, and potentially reach different organs.

In early-stage tumors, these bacteria can interfere with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, promoting cancer growth and spread.

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3. High Consumption of Processed Meat.

Stomach cancer rates among individuals under 50 have experienced a significant rise, according to a report in the journal Nature.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacteria residing in the stomach’s mucous layers, is a well-known risk factor for stomach cancer, contributing to approximately 40 percent of cases in the UK.

The bacteria can lead to atrophic gastritis, a condition characterized by chronic inflammation and thinning of the stomach lining, which can progress to cancer.

Research indicates that a diet high in processed meats like sausages, bacon, and hamburgers can increase the prevalence of H. pylori in the stomach.

Lifestyle factors such as excessive consumption of red meat, alcohol, and smoking, combined with the presence of these bacteria, contribute to an elevated risk of stomach cancer.

4. Consuming Ultra-processed foods.

Researchers have found that certain species of E. Colli and F.nucleatum bacteria make cancer treatment-resistant. Studies conducted In the past also revealed that consuming ultra-processed foods messes up the stomach’s microbiome in a way that promotes these two bacterial growth.

“Some bacteria enable gut cells to acquire stem cell-like properties which increases the chance of cancer formation at the cellular level,” says Dr Meera Patel, a researcher in the Colorectal & Peritoneal Oncology Lab at the University of Manchester.

5. Excessive Alcohol Intake

Testicular cancer has closely been linked to high alcohol intake according to researchers. Young men who consume more than 14 alcoholic beverages within a week are at a higher risk of testicular cancer.

The cases of testicular cancer have been found to double yearly since the 1970s and it baffles the minds of cancer experts.