Shocking map highlights an alarming trend facing a growing number of Australians
A disturbing map has revealed an alarming rise in cancers among young Australians as experts warn the number of diagnoses is only increasing.
Australia has the highest cancer rate globally among people under 50, with 135 cases per 100,000 people, data from the World Bank shows.
New Zealand has the second-highest rate, with 119 cases per 100,000 people.
Despite skin cancer remaining the most common cancer in Australia, it's not the type seeing a surge in detections within younger demographics.
The cancers strongly contributing to rate increases for people in their 30s are scolorectal (colon) and thyroid cancer.
Cancer remains most common in older ages - in 2024 an estimated 88 per cent of cancers diagnosed will occur in people aged 50 or more, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
But cancer rates among young people are increasing with up to 20,000 people under the age of 50 expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2024.
Despite skin cancer remaining the most common cancer in Australia, it's not the type seeing a surge in detections among younger demographics (a map is pictured)
People aged 30 to 49 are particularly at risk, accounting for 84 per cent of cases.
There was some good news, however. In the past 24 years, cancer mortality rates for people in their 30s and 40s have been steadily decreasing.
From 2000 to 2024, deaths fell from 60 to 37 per 100,000 people for those aged in their 40s and from 18 to 12 per 100,000 for those aged in their 30s.
A spokesperson for Cancer Australia told Daily Mail Australia that early-onset of the disease was an 'emerging issue of concern globally'.
'Recent studies have shown increasing rates of certain cancers in adults under 50 years old in many countries, including Australia,' they said.
The cancers strongly contributing to rate increases for people in their 30s are colorectal and thyroid cancer (stock image)
'The causes of early-onset cancers are complex and likely involve a number of contributing factors including changes over recent decades in lifestyle, diet, obesity, environmental exposures, and other factors.
'However, more research is needed to better understand the specific drivers of this trend.'
The spokesperson said if detected early, more than 90 per cent of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated and urged Australians to take advantage of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
People aged 45 to 74 can take a free test at home every two years.
A recent study that attempted to pinpoint the rise in colon cancers among young people suggested it might be due to a surge in 'accelerated agers'.
These patients have a biological age that is higher than their chronological age, which is caused by a mixture of lifestyle choices like diet and alcohol consumption, and environmental factors such as exposure to chemicals.
Non-melanoma skin cancer remains the most common cancer diagnosed in Australia, with more than one million treatments given each year.
The second-most common cancers are prostrate and breast cancer, with about 24,000 and 20,000 diagnosed each year respectively.
The fourth is melanoma, with 17,700 Australians diagnosed per year.
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