The director of NSIA-LUTH, Dr. Muhammad, highlighted that the increasing trend of late marriages is having a significant impact on the rising number of breast cancer diagnoses. He emphasized the importance of young women adopting a healthy lifestyle by exercising, eating properly, and avoiding junk food to reduce their risk of developing the disease.
A study published in The Lancet in November 2024, titled “The Current and Future Global Burden of Cancer Among Adolescents and Young Adults,” revealed that in 2022, approximately 1,300,196 cancer cases and 377,621 cancer-related deaths occurred among adolescents and young adults. The research also showed that the age-standardized rates (ASRs) for both incidence and mortality were higher in females than in males, with incidence rates being 1.9 times higher and mortality rates 1.2 times higher.
While the highest cancer incidence rates were observed in high-income countries, low-income nations reported the highest mortality rates. Consequently, the case fatality rate ranged from 12% in high-income countries to 57% in low-income countries. The study further revealed that breast and cervical cancers were the most frequently diagnosed and leading causes of cancer-related deaths in 163 and 93 countries, respectively. The incidence and mortality of these cancers varied significantly by region.
Looking ahead, the study forecasts a global increase of 12% in the adolescent and young adult cancer burden by 2050, with low Human Development Index (HDI) countries experiencing a dramatic rise of over 102%, while very high HDI countries are expected to see a 10.7% decrease in cases.
