Cancer Is Coming for Younger Adults — and the Field Isn’t Ready

The epidemiological tools built for midlife disease are straining to explain a generational shift

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Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men under 50 in the US, indicating a need for a shift in cancer risk assessment.
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Seventy-five percent of 42 countries reported rising early-onset cancer incidences, with Generation X and Millennials facing higher risks.
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Current epidemiologic tools are inadequate for understanding early-onset cancers, as most major cohorts begin in midlife.
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Only 30% to 45% of cancers are linked to established modifiable causes, highlighting the need for better measurement of exposures.
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The authors propose frameworks for advancing cancer research, emphasizing the importance of treating early-onset cancer as a life-course issue.

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