Risk Insurance Advisor Steve O’Connor helps people ensure they have the right insurance cover when they need it most.
Cancer has often been thought of as a disease that mainly affects older people.
However, research now shows a steady rise in diagnoses among younger adults, both around the world and here in New Zealand.
One of the strongest examples is bowel cancer. In New Zealand, cases in people aged under 50 have been increasing for the past two decades.
Between 2000 and 2020, early-onset bowel cancer rose by around 26 per cent every decade, despite falling rates in older people.
By 2040, experts predict the incidence could almost double, reaching about 15 cases per 100,000 people.
Other cancers becoming more common in younger age groups include breast, stomach, pancreatic, uterine, and prostate cancers.
While the overall numbers remain lower than in older adults, the upward trend is clear and concerning.
Among adolescents and young adults aged 12-24, an average of 190 cancer cases were recorded each year between 2008 and 2017.
When including people up to 29, the figure rises to 351 cases annually, almost one new diagnosis every day.
That was 10 years ago. The reasons are not fully understood, though lifestyle factors such as diet, obesity, and low activity levels are thought to play a role.
Earlier detection and better screening are also contributing to higher diagnosis rates.
This trend highlights the importance of both prevention and preparation.
Do you have Trauma Cover? It can ease financial pressure when diagnosed with a critical illness and afford you the best medications and treatments.
- Steve O’Connor, Insurance Advisor with Insurance Market, phone 021 862 330, email steve.oconnor@insurance-market.co.nz
