Millennials and Gen Z are living in an era of unprecedented technological advancements, access to information, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. However, this era is also associated with a worrying rise in various health challenges, especially diseases such as cancer.

Cancer, often ignored in public discourse, has become a very visible and serious problem, globally and in India.

The contrast between advanced lifestyle and widespread threat of this deadly disease highlights the dire need for heightened awareness and proactive healthcare measures.

The rising burden of cancer in millennials and Gen Z

On August 1, the American Cancer Society released a new study in Lancet Public Health about cancer incidence and mortality rates across different generations.

They found that 17 types of cancer are more common in recent generations, particularly among millennials and Gen Z (those born between 1980 and 2012), with some cancer types being more common among those born in 1990 than in 1955.

These 17 types of cancer include: colorectum, uterine corpus, gallbladder, kidney and renal pelvis, pancreas, myeloma, noncardia gastrica, a type of stomach cancer, leukemia, testicular, cardia gastrica, a type of stomach cancer, small intestine, estrogen receptor-positive breast, ovary, liver (in women), non-HPV-related oral and pharyngeal (in women), anal (in men), Kaposi sarcoma, a type of blood cancer (in men).

According to the authors, the increasing incidence of cancer in persons aged 50 years and younger is due primarily to increased exposure to carcinogenic agents during early life or adolescence.

Cancer incidence in India

Although this data is from the US, the incidence in India varies widely from incident to incident.

The Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI) found that cases of colon cancer are increasing among adults in the age group of 31 to 40 years, while on the contrary people above 50 years of age are getting affected by it.

The National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (ICMR-NCDIR) has revealed that 14,61,427 new cases of cancer are estimated to be reported in India in 2022, with a gross incidence rate of 100.4 per 1,00,000 persons.

According to ICMR-NCDIR, approximately one in nine Indians is likely to develop cancer in their lifetime.

While lung cancer is most common in men, breast cancer is most prevalent in women.

Lymphoid leukemia is the most predominant type in children aged 0-14 years, accounting for 29.2% of cases in boys and 24.2% in girls. By 2025, the incidence of cancer is projected to increase by 12.8% compared to 2020, Indian researchers said.

While cancer in India is complex and evolving, the main concern today is to address the existing care gap. In fact, “there is a lack of a dedicated programme or policy to tackle and control childhood cancer.”

Dr Chintamani, chairman of surgical oncology at Sir Gangaram Hospital, told IndiaToday.in that the “generational shift in cancer risk” is not well understood today.

Dr. Pooja Babbar, Consultant, Medical Oncology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, said that the reasons for the higher risk of cancer in millennials and Gen Z today are air pollution, starting to consume alcohol and smoking at an early age, industrialization, availability of highly processed foods.

“Gen Z is more exposed to what I call ultra-processed food or white food; they watch TV with popcorn and cold drinks,” Dr Babbar said.

Dr Amit Bhargava, Senior Director, Medical Oncology, said that though we have a lot of food options, we have fewer “healthy” options. But when it comes to rising cancer rates, alcohol, smoking and exposure to toxic environments top the list.

Dr. Bhargava said, “Over time, the number of families suffering from familial cancer has increased rapidly, leading to transmission of cancer genes to the younger population, and thus, cancer incidence at an earlier age.”

However, Dr Babbar said another reason for this rising incidence is better diagnostic facilities. “We have very good imaging and testing available now. People are also more cautious about cancer, so more new cases are being diagnosed,” he said.

How can we stop the inevitable growth of cancer?

The first thing is to change dietary habits: eat clean, home-cooked food, keep the body hydrated, then eat whole grains, vegetables, fruits, avoid processed foods, and limit salt and sugar intake.

“Excess salt and sugar intake are indirectly linked to many cancers by causing obesity. It is also important to maintain body weight within the right range,” advised Dr Babbar.

In addition to physical activity, maintaining a proper daily rhythm of sleep can help the body repair damage caused during the day.

Dr. Babbar said, “Millennials and Gen Z do not sleep properly. They do not get enough sleep or they sleep very late at night. This causes stress in the body and cancer. Anyway, today’s young population is very stressed.”

Dr. Bhargava highlighted the importance of early detection, especially in cases of familial cancer.

Additionally, he said, maintain your vitamin B12 and D3 levels, as well as make exercise a part of your routine by completely avoiding alcohol and smoking.

Dr Chintamani said about 40-50% of cancers can be prevented by lifestyle modifications. Most hereditary cancers are “younger cancers and are relatively more aggressive and have worse outcomes.”

That’s why being aware of one’s body is important, he said.

While millennials and Gen Z are increasingly facing health challenges such as cancer, a concerted effort towards awareness, early detection, and lifestyle changes is needed to tackle the issue.