Women are disproportionately affected, with cancer rates 83% higher than men in the same age group.
Scientists are intensifying efforts to understand why cancer rates are climbing among young adults, particularly millennials.
According to a Washington Post analysis of federal data, diagnoses among people aged 15 to 49 have increased by 10 percent since 2000, even as rates have fallen among older Americans. Women are most affected, with cancer rates 83 percent higher than men in the same age range.
Researchers point to changing environmental exposures as a possible factor. “We’ve changed what we’re exposed to considerably in the past few decades,” said Gary Patti, a professor at Washington University. Studies suggest millennials may be aging biologically faster, raising cancer risk by up to 42 percent.
Factors under investigation include medications taken during pregnancy, processed foods, disrupted circadian rhythms, and synthetic chemicals. Yin Cao, also at Washington University, warned: “This is not just about cancer. This is a universal problem across different diseases.”
The evidence remains preliminary but highlights a growing public health concern.