A Gut Feeling?

Cancer used to be regarded as a collection of 'diseases', mainly affecting the elderly. Devi Sridhar (University of Edinburgh) notes, however, that early-onset cancers are becoming strikingly more common. This phenomenon has been seen in many developed countries, including Denmark; the UK and the USA. G20 data shows, that between 1990 and 2019, a 22% increase in cancers occurred in the 25-29 age group. The 30-34 age group also had its highest incidence of cancers. As cancer screening is far from routine in younger folk, there's every possibility that some of the recorded cancers became active earlier. Many early-onset cancers affect the digestive system, especially the colon; the liver; the oeophagus and the pancreas. This raises the possibility that food is involved in their genesis (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/25/cancer-striking-earlier-ultra-processed-foods). It's spectulative but some early-onset cancers, may be linked to people consuming much more ultra-processed food. These cheap, 'tasty' and pre-prepared items, may be the only real alternatives, available to time and cash-poor folk. It's been suggested that children, with a diet high in ultra-processed items, develop a sub-optimal microbiome. The microbiome is the assemblage of trillions of bacteria, living in our guts. These bacteria supply the body with vitamins, trace elements and help our immune systems. Sridhar says poorer folk ought to be helped to purchase healthier diets for themselves and their families. This would be good, preventative medicine and, in the long term, saves money.