SANTA ANA, California – A recent report from City of Hope’s Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center highlights a concerning trend in cancer rates among young adults aged 18-49. While the median age for a cancer diagnosis is typically 66 years old, data shows a rise in certain cancers among younger individuals, with colorectal and breast cancers leading the surge.
Juliette Landgrave, a cancer survivor, was only 38 when she discovered a lump in her breast, prompting a life-changing journey. Initially told she was too young to have cancer, Landgrave’s experience reflects the growing number of young adults facing cancer diagnoses.
Dr. Edward Kim, Physician in Chief at City of Hope Orange County, warns that if current trends continue, colon cancer could become a leading cause of death in young adults by 2030. Data from the National Cancer Institute reveals that Orange County is at the forefront of this concerning statistic within the Southern California region.
In the past year, 18% of cancer patients treated at City of Hope were under 50, signaling a shift in cancer demographics. Dr. Amanda Schwer, a radiation oncologist at City of Hope Orange County, recalls the unprecedented occurrence of delivering bad news to multiple patients in their early 30s consecutively.
Health experts stress the importance of regular screenings and symptom awareness for early detection. Recommendations now advise cancer screenings for individuals as young as 40 and even earlier for those in high-risk communities.
For Landgrave, advocating for proactive health measures is essential, particularly for younger women. She encourages regular self-breast exams as a preventive measure. Despite Orange County’s higher cancer diagnosis rate compared to neighboring counties, it still falls below the national average, according to KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo’s report.