“At 22, I was diagnosed with a 7 centimeter tumor in my throat (it was cancer and changed my life)”

At an age when most are preoccupied with starting a career or higher education, she was stopped in her tracks by a terrifying diagnosis: throat cancer. This discovery was not a simple accident, but the result of a rare congenital anomaly, where a thyroglossal canal had not resolved as expected, unfortunately evolving into cancer with a 7 centimeter tumor. This case, although rare, highlights a worrying trend observed among young adults.

Indeed, such a large tumor at such a young age seemed unreal. Yet this diagnosis became a starting point for a quest for meaning and prevention reported in The Louisville Cardinal. Through her experience, she learned that cancer among young adults is on the rise, a trend that raises important questions about our lifestyle and our healthcare system.

A diagnosis and awareness

The news of cancer is always a shock, but when you are young, it is even more difficult to integrate. Cancer, generally associated with older people, is becoming an abrupt reality for a growing number of young people. His journey began with seemingly harmless symptomswhich turned out to be the sign of thyroid cancer. The tumor had formed along the thyroglossal canal, a rare medical feature that placed it in an even lower percentage of cases.

After the operation, she spent a lot of time researching cancers affecting young adults. The information was alarming: uA significant increase in cancer cases among those under 50 has been observedhighlighting a worrying shift in public health trends.

The increase in cancers among young people: a warning signal

According to a study recent from BMJ Oncology, “breast, tracheal, lung, stomach and colorectal cancers in young adults have the highest mortality and morbidity rates“. This trend has led a review of the recommended ages for regular screeningsfor example lowering the age for mammograms aged 40 to 50 and for colorectal tests from 45 to 50 years old.

Although Generation Z appears to adopt healthier lifestyle behaviors, such as less alcohol consumption and more regular gym attendance compared to previous generations, their deep immersion in social networks are not without riskssince it allows to normalize unconventional eating habits as super spicy and ultra-processed chips. The adoption of such a trend, despite greater awareness of physical health, can paradoxically lead to long-term health problems. This is why access to regular check-ups and awareness of symptoms can be vital.

Prevention and awareness

Faced with this reality, prevention takes a central place. Adjustments to the recommended ages for screening for various cancers are a step toward recognizing this new trend. For most cancers, screening ages have been lowered, which reflects a necessary but still insufficient awareness.

Beyond systemic changes, her experience pushed her to personally rethink your health : “Knowing your family history, being attentive to body signals and adopting a balanced life have become your new principles“. Illness taught him the importance of not taking health for granted, even at a young age. She also emphasized “the impact of our lifestyle choices, from our diet to our digital engagement, on our long-term well-being“.