Why Are Young People Being Diagnosed with Cancer in Record Numbers?

In Partnership with Cancer Council Victoria

Beastie Boys’ Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch was diagnosed with a rare throat cancer at the age of 44 and left the music world in shock when he died three years later. While his cancer was rare, the reality is that cancer itself is not as uncommon in young people as we’ve come to believe. It can strike at any age. Almost one in two of us will be diagnosed with cancer in our lifetimes, but we can no longer view this as just an older person’s disease.  

Actress Olivia Munn, who was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer in 2023 at the age of 43, recently paid tribute to her Violet co-star, Erica Ash, who died from breast cancer this year aged 46. Earlier in the year, Kate Middleton announced to the world she is receiving treatment for an undisclosed cancer diagnosis.

What is causing the rise in young cases is complicated and is likely a mix of genetics, lifestyle choices, environmental exposures, and better screening technology. But the impact of a diagnosis at such a critical stage in life can cause significant psychological challenges for patients and their families. 

“You’re suddenly confronted. The penny drops. I was a healthy person and suddenly I’m not,” said 38-year-old Melbourne tattooist Bru, after she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer.

The financial and physical impacts were significant for Bru during treatment, and she’s still psychologically processing her diagnosis. “Life is not the same, because you’re a whole different person,” she shared. “But you’re left with the life you used to have, with the work you used to have.”

But just because cancer is a fact of life and a diagnosis at any age is scary, that’s far from the same thing as saying that it’s inevitable. 

Research is finding more important pieces to the cancer puzzle. Immunotherapy is one major game-changer that is hacking the immune system to kill cancer cells and is already improving survival for melanoma and blood cancer patients. The discovery of genetic mutations that increase cancer risk is giving thousands of people the early warning they need to minimise their risk. And researchers right now are working on ways for everyone to easily and cheaply test their own cancer risk at their local doctor to help manage their healthcare earlier.

So, with bowel cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma being some of the more likely cancers to be diagnosed in young Australians, awareness of these risks and taking immediate action can save your life. Now is the time to really get in tune with our bodies.

Many cancers are preventable and there are things we can do now to bring our risk down: ditching the smokes and vapes, covering up from UV radiation, getting the body moving, and eating right all make a difference.

And the earlier cancer is found, the better the chances of treating it. Cancer screening can find signs of cancer even before you notice any symptoms. Regularly checking your skin is easy, and tuning into your body more often is colossally important. Check for lumps and bumps, or anything that doesn’t look, feel, or come out right. And if something seems off, get yourself checked out by a doctor. 

The chapters of modern music are filled with tragic and preventable deaths. The huge loss is deeply felt by fans, but this pales in comparison to the impact on the people closest to them. The mums who lost their sons or daughters, the kids who lost their mum or dad, the sisters and brothers, bandmates and childhood friends.

With almost one in two of us diagnosed with cancer in our lifetimes, all of us will be affected. So, taking a few moments to look out for our health, and the people we care about, is nothing compared to the impact a cancer diagnosis can have. The good news is more people are surviving cancer than ever before by catching it earlier and having access to improved treatments. So don’t wait. In the words of Moloko’s dance pop anthem, “Give up yourself unto the moment / The time is now.”

If you or someone you know has cancer, get free confidential support from a cancer nurse, call 13 11 20.