Ο καρκίνος αποτελεί έναν ανεξήγητο γρίφο για τους επιστήμονες, καθώς παρατηρείται αύξηση καρκινικών περιστατικών σε νεαρές ηλικίες, κυρίως στο γαστρεντερικό σύστημα. Μεγεθύνοντας την έρευνα και τις γνώσεις μας, αναζητούμε απαντήσεις σχετικά με τους λόγους αυτής της αύξησης και το προφίλ των ατόμων που επηρεάζονται. Η καθηγήτρια Επιδημιολογίας και Προληπτικής Ιατρικής, Ντόρα Ψαλτοπούλου, έχει αναλάβει μια γενναία προσπάθεια να διερευνήσει αυτόν τον γρίφο με βάση τις υφιστάμενες γνώσεις.
Γενικά, ο τρόπος ζωής και το περιβάλλον συContributing Factors to Increasing Cancer Rates in Younger Ages, Specifically in the Gastrointestinal Tract
A baffling puzzle for scientists is the increasing incidence of cancer in individuals under the age of 50. While the data in this direction is constantly growing, the scientific community struggles to accurately answer the question. Is it the environment, pollution, diet, lifestyle, or DNA? Is there a specific profile of individuals who develop cancer at a young age, or does the malignancy not discriminate? And if it does, what kind of discrimination is it? Dr. Dora Psaltopoulou, Professor of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, has made a brave effort to approach the issue within the limits of feasibility and with the existing knowledge. “Cancer is largely due to our lifestyle and environment. However, this happens more as we age, because a detrimental factor needs many years to lead an organism to cancer. For example, someone who smokes can develop various types of cancer. Also, if someone is obese, or has an unhealthy diet, or consumes excessive amounts of alcohol.” In young people, lifestyle contributes to a lesser extent. Indeed, as Ms. Psaltopoulou admits, in an interview with the news agency fm, many studies have found an increase in cancer cases at younger ages, specifically an increase in certain types of cancers, especially in the gastrointestinal tract. But what is the cause of this? “There can be many factors, and we have not clarified all of them. To a lesser extent, it is due to lifestyle because young people have not lived through the decades required for mutation to occur. It may also be due to the better diagnostic tests we now have, but not to a large extent. There is a possibility that it is due to environmental pollution, and this is a study currently being conducted by the scientific community to determine to what extent it can affect the development of cancer, either through the food chain or atmospheric pollution. And it is true that in some people, their genetic material predisposes them to develop various types of cancer. Generally, we could say that even the sun, when we are exposed to excessive sunlight, increases the likelihood of melanoma. There are also cases where people have become ill at a very young age and have a higher likelihood of developing cancer. However, in most cases, there is no guilty gene among those known to science so far, so there are many cases of healthy people among us who do not engage in unhealthy behavior and unfortunately develop cancer without any of the known risk factors. Because the evolution of science in 20-30 years may reveal specific genes, behaviors, or radiations that we are not aware of, which can lead to carcinogenesis, even at a young age.” A 27% Increase in Mortality in Individuals Under 50 The increase in cancer prevalence in individuals under the age of 50 is not a recent phenomenon, according to Dr. Psaltopoulou, as it has been observed in studies over the past 20-30 years. “Over the past three decades, there has been a gradual increase of approximately 80% in new diagnoses for individuals under 50, according to a recently published study. Similarly, mortality in these young age groups has increased by 27%.” Furthermore, Dr. Psaltopoulou points out that cancer, as a disease, is not very common, but even in these age groups, it remains one of the leading causes of death. “However, because we cannot predict, especially for young individuals, who have a higher probability of developing cancer, it is important to listen to our bodies. If we notice some symptoms that we did not have before, we should immediately consult our personal physician. For example, if we experience bleeding from somewhere, a change in a mole, gastrointestinal disorders, persistent pain, a lump in the breast, fever, or unexplained weight loss, we should seek medical attention to undergo diagnostic laboratory and imaging tests to rule out malignancy. And let us not forget that the earlier we diagnose a disease or cancer, the more effective the treatment we receive, which can lead to complete recovery. Therefore, prompt diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment.”
