#Cancerawareness

A major new review has found that today’s young adults face a dramatically higher risk of rectal cancer, revealing that individuals born in 1990 are up to four times more likely to develop this malignancy compared to those born just 40 years earlier. The sweeping analysis, published in the British Journal of Surgery and led by scientists at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, documents surging rates of gastrointestinal cancers—not just in the United States but across developed nations following Western lifestyle patterns. These findings have far-reaching implications for global health, and offer critical lessons for Thailand as it grapples with shifting demographic and health threats.

Alarming international research published in the British Journal of Surgery documents that young adults born in 1990 face up to four times higher rectal cancer risk compared to those born just 40 years earlier, revealing a catastrophic generational shift in gastrointestinal cancer patterns that reflects the devastating health consequences of Western lifestyle adoption—a trend with urgent implications for Thailand as urbanization, dietary modernization, and sedentary behaviors accelerate across all socioeconomic levels. This comprehensive analysis from Harvard Medical School and Dana Farber Cancer Institute scientists demonstrates surging rates of early-onset gastrointestinal cancers across developed nations, offering critical warnings for Thai healthcare policy as the kingdom confronts similar demographic and lifestyle transformations.

Prostate cancer, the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among men worldwide, is again in the headlines as global cases continue to rise and new research underscores the urgent need for preventive measures. Recent estimates from the National Cancer Institute forecast more than 300,000 new cases in 2025 alone, marking prostate cancer as an escalating public health challenge not only globally but for Thailand’s aging male population. As medical experts intensify calls for awareness and regular screenings, cutting-edge studies are shining a light on modifiable lifestyle factors that may help stem the tide of this disease.

A new population-based study has revealed a strong link between colorectal cancer (CRC) in women and a wide range of adverse sexual and reproductive health conditions, with the risks most pronounced among women diagnosed before the age of 40. The research, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on June 1, underscores the need for greater awareness and comprehensive post-cancer care for female CRC survivors—a topic that has often been overlooked in Thailand and worldwide.

A beloved physical activity endorsed by millions for its health benefits—long-distance running—may be unexpectedly associated with a higher risk of developing precancerous colon growths among young adults, according to a new study presented at the prestigious American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025 conference in Chicago. The study, conducted by researchers based in Washington, DC, challenges the prevailing wisdom that vigorous aerobic exercise is universally protective against all forms of cancer, raising pressing questions for health-minded Thais—especially the country’s growing cohort of marathon and ultramarathon enthusiasts.

Recent news of former US President Joseph Biden’s advanced prostate cancer has reignited global debate, including among Thai health professionals and men, about the value of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests for the early detection of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the United States and an important concern worldwide, presents a unique challenge: distinguishing aggressive, potentially deadly tumors from slow-growing ones that may never pose harm. This ongoing health debate holds particular significance for Thai men, as prostate cancer incidence in Thailand has gradually risen—mirroring trends in the West as life expectancy increases and populations age. Understanding the evolving research on PSA testing can help Thai families make informed decisions about their own health.

A striking rise in cancer incidence among young adults is rattling the global medical community, as new research and mounting anecdotal reports suggest that more people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s are being diagnosed with various forms of cancer than ever before. This trend, recently highlighted by The Economist, is upending longstanding assumptions about cancer as a disease primarily affecting the elderly and posing new challenges for health systems—including here in Thailand.

A leading internal medicine specialist has sounded the alarm on the “alarming rise” of colon cancer in Generation Z and Millennials, urging young people to look out for five critical warning signs as diagnoses soar worldwide. Dr. Zion Ko Lamm, whose insights have attracted nearly a million followers on social media, emphasizes that colon cancer is not just an “old person’s disease”—incidence among the under-50s has jumped by 80% over the past thirty years, even as rates in older adults have declined or stabilised. This alarming trend, detailed in a recent article by the Daily Mail (source), raises urgent questions for Thai healthcare and society, where rapid lifestyle changes could echo Western patterns.