For years, cancer was something most people associated with later life. Today, that assumption is quietly changing. Doctors across Indian cities are seeing a steady rise in cancer diagnoses among people in their 20s and 30s, particularly colorectal, breast and thyroid cancers and the shift is hard to ignore.
“It’s no longer unusual to see patients in their late 20s or early 30s being diagnosed,” says Dr Shivam Singla, consultant oncologist at Nanavati Hospital. “What’s worrying is that many of them don’t have the classic risk factors we were trained to look for.”
Lifestyle is emerging as a major factor. Long hours at desks, irregular sleep, high stress, lack of physical activity and diets heavy in ultra-processed foods have become the norm for many young adults. “These habits affect inflammation, hormones and metabolism over time,” Dr Singla explains. “When those systems are disrupted early, the long-term impact can show up sooner than we expect.”
Air pollution, chemical additives, pesticides, plastics and endocrine-disrupting compounds are now a part of daily life, especially in India. While research is still evolving, doctors believe prolonged, low-grade exposure may be contributing to earlier disease onset. “We’re living in environments our bodies didn’t evolve to handle,” says Dr Singla.
Genetics also plays a role, though it accounts for a smaller percentage of cases. What concerns doctors is that many young people with a family history of cancer aren’t screened early because they don’t think they’re at risk. “Genetic risk doesn’t mean you will get cancer,” Dr Singla says, “but it does mean you shouldn’t ignore symptoms or delay evaluations.”
Delayed diagnosis is one of the biggest challenges with early-onset cancer. Symptoms like persistent digestive issues, unexplained fatigue, changes in bowel habits, or sudden weight loss are often brushed off as stress, lifestyle problems or poor diet. Younger patients are also less likely to be taken seriously when they seek help, which can lead to diagnosis at a more advanced stage.
Doctors are now pushing for a shift in how prevention is approached. “We need to start talking about cancer risk earlier not to create fear, but awareness,” says Dr Singla. Knowing family history, paying attention to persistent symptoms, and making small but consistent lifestyle changes can make a real difference.
The rise in early-onset cancer doesn’t mean young adults should live in anxiety. Most won’t develop the disease. But it does signal that youth alone is no longer a guarantee of protection and that listening to your body matters more than ever.
Also Read:
From Hospital Drips to Celebrity Wellness: Is IV Therapy Crossing the Line?
Healing From Within: How Stem Cells Are Changing the Way We Treat Pain, Injury and Cancer
The 5-5-5 Technique: The Quiet Ritual Calming Overstimulated Minds
