Prostate cancer cases have quadrupled in under-50s since 2001 as seven cancer types surge among young people

From the Newshound archive · first published 6 October 2026 · last updated 7 October 2026.

Cancer rates are climbing more steeply among younger adults than any other age group, with prostate cancer diagnoses in under-50s rising fourfold — from 158 to 640 cases — between 2001 and 2023, according to World Cancer Research Fund analysis of NHS England data. Bowel cancer in the same age group more than doubled over the same period, kidney and womb cancer cases also doubled, and overall UK cancer rates among 25-to-49-year-olds rose 24 per cent between the early 1990s and 2019. Experts point to the obesity epidemic, poor diets and lack of exercise as key drivers, describing the trend as a 'ticking timebomb'.

Queen's University Belfast's Professor Mark Lawler, professor of digital health, warned that the figures 'will undoubtedly continue to grow' without urgent action.

NHS England medical director Professor Frankie Swords called on anyone under 50 who notices a lump, unexpected bleeding or unexplained weight loss to consult a GP without delay.

Fibre-rich foods — beans, lentils, oats and wholegrains — reduce bowel cell damage and are among the simplest steps experts say younger adults can take now.