All articles tagged with #young adults
Emma Herring, 22, from Durham, England, was repeatedly told chest pains were anxiety or a pulled muscle until imaging revealed stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma, leading to urgent chemotherapy and fertility concerns; she is sharing her story to urge others to trust their instincts and seek a second opinion when doctors dismiss symptoms.
A new American Cancer Society report shows colon cancer is rising among people under 65, with rectal cancer driving the trend and cases under 50 doubling from 1998 to 2022. Researchers suspect an environmental or behavioral exposure, not inactivity, as the trigger, and the trend is spreading globally. Experts urge earlier awareness and screening—starting colonoscopies at 45 and using home FIT tests—to detect and prevent disease, as many younger patients present with advanced cancer. Emphasizing symptom talk, especially bloody stool and cramps, can help prompt earlier diagnosis.
A 20-year-old college student experienced intermittent upper abdominal pain and was initially thought to have an ovarian cyst. After worsening symptoms and imaging, she was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer, underwent surgery, and faced chemotherapy side effects including severe fatigue, neuropathy, and vision loss, leading to a switch to an oral chemo regimen. She completed treatment in mid-2025 and was declared cancer-free; now a senior and intern, she advocates for awareness of colon cancer symptoms in young people and stresses listening to one’s body, with plans for ongoing blood tests and annual colonoscopies.
A new international study finds first-time heart attacks among US adults 18–54 rose 57% from 2011 to 2022, driven largely by STEMI; NSTEMI deaths stayed around 1% and stable. Women faced worse in-hospital outcomes, and nontraditional factors—like sleep quality, stress, low income, diabetes/prediabetes, kidney disease, and drug use—mattered more for predicting death than traditional risks. Rising prediabetes/diabetes in youth and kidney disease, along with ongoing high drug-related deaths, highlight the need for earlier risk identification and broader risk assessment in younger adults.
Ph.D. student LaShae Rolle was diagnosed with breast cancer at 26 and used her powerlifting background to stay strong through surgery and chemotherapy; she published the first case study on elite weightlifting during cancer treatment and now advocates for early cancer screening and exercise for young patients, with remission confirmed.
A American Cancer Society analysis published in JAMA finds colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death among adults 50 and younger in the U.S., marking the first time this cancer tops other cancers in this age group since the 1990s. While overall cancer deaths in this cohort have declined about 44% since 1990, colorectal deaths have risen among those under 50. Researchers are exploring factors such as diet, obesity, antibiotics, and other exposures, with known risk factors including family history, obesity, smoking, and high intake of red/processed meats. Public health guidance emphasizes awareness and screening, with the USPSTF recommending average-risk adults begin screening at age 45 (colonoscopy preferred, with stool-based tests also available) through age 75, and individualized decisions about screening from 75 to 85.
A JAMA study using CDC data shows colorectal cancer became the leading cause of cancer death for people under 50 in the US by 2023, with mortality rising while other cancers decline. The rise coincides with more young patients diagnosed at advanced stages, often after symptom delays and screening gaps, despite recommendations to start average-risk screening at 45. Personal stories like Jenna Scott's—diagnosed at 31 with stage 4 disease and ongoing treatment—highlight the urgent need for awareness, faster diagnosis, and broader screening to reduce deaths.
Mariana Tata, 26, dismissed bloating and rectal bleeding as hemorrhoids until imaging revealed a large ovarian mass and stage 4 colon cancer with abdominal spread; after surgery to remove reproductive organs and starting chemotherapy, she remains in treatment and is now stable. The diagnosis upended her life plans, with medical costs and disrupted family plans, and she urges others to seek second opinions and act on persistent symptoms early.
Institutes of Religion, a program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026, having grown from a single location in Idaho to over 2,700 worldwide, with record numbers of young adults participating and emphasizing community, scripture study, and faith in Jesus Christ.
Rising cases of kidney problems among young Malaysians are linked to lifestyle choices such as poor diet, lack of exercise, and untreated health conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Experts warn that habits like overusing painkillers, consuming energy drinks, and dehydration contribute to early kidney failure, which is preventable through regular health checks and healthier habits.
The rise in colon cancer among young, healthy individuals may be linked to early-life factors such as microbiome disruptions, infections like colibactin-producing bacteria, diet high in sugar and processed foods, and environmental influences, with research suggesting that mutations and vulnerabilities could originate in infancy, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and lifestyle modifications.
A 20-year-old man from Sterling Heights, Edward Constantineau, suffered a rare brain stroke caused by arteriovenous malformation while at the gym, but with quick medical intervention, family support, and intensive rehab, he is making a remarkable recovery and plans to continue his education and pursue a career in healthcare.
A study suggests that playing whimsical Nintendo games like Super Mario Bros. can reduce burnout in young adults by fostering childlike wonder and increasing happiness, offering a potential mental health strategy for stress management.
India is experiencing a rising trend of head and neck cancers, particularly oral cancer, among young people in their 20s and 30s, driven by lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, alcohol, poor oral hygiene, HPV infection, and stress. Early detection and preventive measures like awareness, screening, and regulation of carcinogenic products are crucial to combat this preventable health crisis.
Hyderabad oncologist Dr. Raghuram advises young adults in their 20s to avoid habits like smoking, sedentary behavior, poor diet, sleep deprivation, and vitamin D deficiency to reduce long-term cancer risk, emphasizing early lifestyle changes for better health outcomes.