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It’s a disturbing mystery that has drawn the attention of investigators from across Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).
Why are a growing number of young people under 50 being diagnosed with over a dozen forms of cancer around the world? This trend is especially worrying in women, according to statistics released in January 2025 by the American Cancer Society, which found that cancer incidence rates “in women under 50 are now 82% higher than their male counterparts, up from 51% in 2002.” This nationwide concern is a Time magazine cover story, “The Race to Explain Why More Young Adults Are Getting Cancer,” which features MSK patients and experts.

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An obvious focus for rising cancer rates is the vicious circle of obesity, highly processed foods, and sed­entary lifestyles, which are an epidemic in America and growing in many countries.

“We know obesity causes inflamma­tion, which can lead to cancer,” explains Dr. Goldfarb. “We believe that plays a role and needs to be addressed. But it doesn’t fully explain the growing rates of young women with breast cancer.”

Nor does it explain the increase in cases seen by MSK’s Center for Young Onset Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Cancer, which is co-directed by gastroenterologist Robin Mendelsohn, MD. The center has tracked more than 4,000 younger adults. “They are actually less likely to be obese than the general popu­lation,” says Dr. Mendelsohn. “They are also less likely to use tobacco or have other known risk factors.”

MSK experts agree there is not a single smoking gun. “If there was, researchers would have found it,” says Dr. Mendelsohn. “Instead, there are likely several causes.”