Oct 29, 2025 06:18 PM
https://theconversation.com/why-are-so-m...cer-268256
EXCERPTS: Millennials – people born between 1981 and 1995 – are the first generation at greater risk of developing tumours than their parents. Between 1990 and 2019, cases of early-onset cancer among people under 50 increased by 79% worldwide, and mortality by 28%.
The truth is that around 80% of cancers are “sporadic”, meaning they are not caused by hereditary mutations but by external factors that damage DNA over time. This includes what we eat and breathe, as well as our level of physical activity, rest, stress and exposure to harmful substances.
[...] Diet’s effect on the body. One of the main factors behind this “new epidemic” is diet. Childhood obesity began to skyrocket in the 1980s. In 2022, more than 390 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 were overweight – 160 million of these were obese, according to the WHO.
This condition is not just a question of aesthetics: it is associated with insulin resistance, low-grade chronic inflammation, and hormonal changes that increase the risk of developing colorectal, breast, or endometrial cancer. Most importantly, the effects of childhood obestity do not disappear with age...
[...] Alcohol’s invisible effects. The second major culprit is alcohol, as millennial gatherings often revolve around a table laden with food and drink. ... today we know that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption: the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a Group 1 carcinogen, on the same level as tobacco...
People raising beer glasses at a wooden table covered with food...
[...] And, as if that weren’t enough, a recent study by Environmental Science & Technology found that many beers contain perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals”, are linked to higher rates of testicular and kidney cancer.
Not enough sleep. We sleep less and worse than previous generations. Recent surveys show that millennials and generation Z get an average of 30-45 minutes less sleep per night than baby boomers, largely due to night-time exposure to screens and social media. This artificial light disrupts the release of melatonin, an antioxidant hormone that regulates the cell cycle.
Chronic lack of sleep not only impairs DNA repair, but also reduces melatonin’s protective effects against cancer...
The weight of stress. Millennials are probably the generation with the highest cortisol levels. When this “stress hormone” remains elevated for a long time, it not only promotes insulin resistance and hypertension, but also weakens the immune system. Research reveals that chronic stress increases inflammation...
The risks of self-medicating. Lastly, younger generations also resort to self-medication more than previous ones. This poses new short and long-term risks.
Frequent use of paracetamol is linked to increased liver damage and a possible increase in liver cancer. Oral contraceptives, used for very long periods due to delayed motherhood, slightly increase the risk of breast and cervical cancer, although they do protect against ovarian and endometrial cancer.
In addition, prolonged use of antacids and antibiotics has been linked to an increased risk of digestive cancer...
What does the future hold for millennials? The projections are worrying. It is expected that cancer cases could rise from around 20 million in 2022 to nearly 35 million in 2050... (MORE - missing details)
EXCERPTS: Millennials – people born between 1981 and 1995 – are the first generation at greater risk of developing tumours than their parents. Between 1990 and 2019, cases of early-onset cancer among people under 50 increased by 79% worldwide, and mortality by 28%.
The truth is that around 80% of cancers are “sporadic”, meaning they are not caused by hereditary mutations but by external factors that damage DNA over time. This includes what we eat and breathe, as well as our level of physical activity, rest, stress and exposure to harmful substances.
[...] Diet’s effect on the body. One of the main factors behind this “new epidemic” is diet. Childhood obesity began to skyrocket in the 1980s. In 2022, more than 390 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 were overweight – 160 million of these were obese, according to the WHO.
This condition is not just a question of aesthetics: it is associated with insulin resistance, low-grade chronic inflammation, and hormonal changes that increase the risk of developing colorectal, breast, or endometrial cancer. Most importantly, the effects of childhood obestity do not disappear with age...
[...] Alcohol’s invisible effects. The second major culprit is alcohol, as millennial gatherings often revolve around a table laden with food and drink. ... today we know that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption: the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a Group 1 carcinogen, on the same level as tobacco...
People raising beer glasses at a wooden table covered with food...
[...] And, as if that weren’t enough, a recent study by Environmental Science & Technology found that many beers contain perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals”, are linked to higher rates of testicular and kidney cancer.
Not enough sleep. We sleep less and worse than previous generations. Recent surveys show that millennials and generation Z get an average of 30-45 minutes less sleep per night than baby boomers, largely due to night-time exposure to screens and social media. This artificial light disrupts the release of melatonin, an antioxidant hormone that regulates the cell cycle.
Chronic lack of sleep not only impairs DNA repair, but also reduces melatonin’s protective effects against cancer...
The weight of stress. Millennials are probably the generation with the highest cortisol levels. When this “stress hormone” remains elevated for a long time, it not only promotes insulin resistance and hypertension, but also weakens the immune system. Research reveals that chronic stress increases inflammation...
The risks of self-medicating. Lastly, younger generations also resort to self-medication more than previous ones. This poses new short and long-term risks.
Frequent use of paracetamol is linked to increased liver damage and a possible increase in liver cancer. Oral contraceptives, used for very long periods due to delayed motherhood, slightly increase the risk of breast and cervical cancer, although they do protect against ovarian and endometrial cancer.
In addition, prolonged use of antacids and antibiotics has been linked to an increased risk of digestive cancer...
What does the future hold for millennials? The projections are worrying. It is expected that cancer cases could rise from around 20 million in 2022 to nearly 35 million in 2050... (MORE - missing details)