Why Cancer Cases Are Increasing Among Generation Z and Millennials
Quelle: VideoElephant (Glomex)
Cancer was long considered a disease that mainly affects older adults, but doctors are observing a concerning shift. More and more Millennials and members of Generation Z are being diagnosed with cancer, which used to be much more common in older age. Researchers are working to understand the reasons behind this. According to the 2026 report from the American Cancer Society, overall colon cancer rates have been declining since the 1980s. However, the number of cases is increasing annually by 2.9% in adults under 50, and these types of cancer often progress more aggressively. Researchers are now investigating a variety of possible factors, including processed foods, alcohol, microplastics, and changes in the gut microbiome. A study published in Nature Medicine found that people born after 1965 have a 23% higher risk of accelerated biological aging than those born in the early 1950s. This accelerated aging was associated with higher rates of lung, gastrointestinal, and uterine cancer. Experts say the results do not mean that younger people should panic, but they emphasize the importance of regularly attending recommended cancer screening tests.