As American experts raise the alarm about junk food being a possible cause of rising cancer rates among young people, an Australian cancer specialist has revealed the two stages in life when we are most vulnerable to developing the disease.
Associate Professor Savio Barreto, a cancer surgeon and researcher who works at Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre in South Australia, said that since 2015, there has been a worldwide increase in early onset cancer.
Prof Barreto told Daily Mail Australia that while doctors are unsure of why this is happening, the sensible advice is to avoid ‘stressors’ that can lead to cancer, including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and being overweight.
‘Everybody knows obesity is associated with the risk of cancer,’ he said.
‘The obesity pandemic has just gone on increasing in Australia [where] 63 per cent of our population is overweight. If someone is overweight, diet, exercise and lifestyle modifications are key.
‘Whatever advice I give it goes back the basics of leading a healthy life, being sensible and avoiding these things.’
Research done by Prof Barreto also indicates there are two crucial stages of life when ‘stressors’ are most likely to affect the body and cause cancer.
One is the perinatal period in the womb, and the other is during adolescence and into your twenties.
Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre cancer surgeon and researcher Associate Professor Savio Barreto said there were two crucial periods of life where ‘stressors’ could effect the body and cause cancer
Even though a person can’t do anything about their mother’s exposure to stressors such as malnutrition, drugs or alcohol during pregnancy, Prof Barreto said they are able make better choices as a teenager and young adult.
However, he acknowledged those who are determined to enjoy a party lifestyle during this period aren’t always the most health-conscious.
‘The decisions we make at those critical timepoints when we are most susceptible to [cancer] is crucial,’ he added.
Over the past decade the number of young Australians diagnosed with cancer has increased by 12 per cent, while the overall number of sufferers is expected to go up by almost a quarter over the next 10 years, figures released on Thursday reveal.
Anita Dessaix, the Cancer Council Public Health Committee Chair, told Daily Mail Australia the figures show ‘a statistically significant increase in cancer rates in Australians aged under 40’.
She said that was ‘most notable in cancers associated with increased body mass, including cancers of the bowel, kidney, uterus, gallbladder and pancreas’.
‘While there’s still a lot of research to be done in how weight loss can reduce cancer risk, it’s clear that this needs to be a clear focus for public heath.’
Ms Dessaix also noted breast cancer rates in younger women had also increased.
‘The reasons are not fully understood and could include advances in diagnostic technology picking up cancers earlier than in previous years,’ she said.
One key to avoiding cancer could be cutting out junk and overly processed food.
Early studies have shown that UPFs – foods that have been through several rounds of processing and have had artificial ingredients added to them – can alter the gut microbiome, which is the collection of healthy bacteria in our bodies.
Mum-of-two Melissa Dunmore, from Melbourne, was diagnosed with stage-three bowel cancer a week before her 33rd birthday, despite having no family history of the disease. Surgeons found a 20cm tumour in her colon along with 11 tiny pre-cancerous polyps
Marlene Sardo-Infirri was seven months pregnant when her husband David was diagnosed with stage-four bowel cancer. The then 38-year-old only experienced one symptom – frequent bathroom visits – and didn’t experience any abdominal pain or bleeding
Evan White, from Dallas, Texas, was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer at the age of 24 after going into hospital to get an abscess removed from his tonsils
The foods have also been shown to irritate the intestinal walls and cause chronic inflammation.
All of these things are believed to increase the risk of cancer.
Unfortunately Australian supermarket shelves overflowing such foods, which can be defined as anything that has a list of ingredients, particularly complex ones.
A 2018 study by the George Institute for Global Health found 61 per cent of supermarket food were ultra-processed with 18 per cent moderately processed and 21 per cent less processed foods.
Daffodil Centre research fellow Dr Joachim Worthington said early detection is key to survival
Almost all (98 per cent) of convenience foods – including ready-to-eat meals, pre-prepared sauces or dressings, canned or processed meats, frozen meals and desserts – fell in the ultra-processed category.
For those under 50, the fastest growing cancer is bowel cancer, which has gone up in this age bracket by about 70 per cent since 2004.
Dr Joachim Worthington, who is a research fellow at the Daffodil Centre run jointly by University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW, said medical professionals are not sure why this is the case.
‘Some of it may be due to increases in obesity and other risk factors, and some of it may be due to a greater awareness of the symptoms, leading to them detecting it early at younger ages,’ he said.
‘The most important thing is for people to speak to their GP if they’re concerned about symptoms or a family history of colorectal cancer.’
He urged people aged 45 to 74 to get involved in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program by requesting a kit online (for people aged 45-49) or completing their kit when they receive it (for people aged 50-74).
He said for those who fall outside the kit testing ranges the best thing they can do is to be aware of the symptoms and the risks.
‘Things like a change in bowel habits, blood in your poo, or unexplained weight loss could be signs of a colorectal cancer,’ he said.
‘If you’re concerned, talk to your GP, who will be able to recommend the best course of action.’
In general, he said screening is vitally important for the early detection of cancer.
One key to avoiding cancer could be cutting out junk and overly processed food. Early studies have shown that UPFs – foods that have been through several rounds of processing and have had artificial ingredients added to them – can alter the gut microbiome, which is the collection of healthy bacteria in our bodies
‘In Australia, we have national screening programs for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers, with lung cancer screening to commence from next year,’ she said.
‘Screening means cancers can be detected early when there is a higher chance of survival, or in some cases like colorectal cancers, detecting and removing lesions before they develop into a cancer.’
Increased screening has seen cancer mortality rates drop for people in their thirties and forties, according to the NSW Cancer Council.
Prof Barreto agrees that catching cancers early is the key to surviving them.
‘In my own career, I have seen breast cancer and colorectal cancers change from death sentences to people living comfortably for 10 to 20 years,’ he said.
‘The problem cancers are stomach cancer because the symptoms are not very specific, and pancreatic cancer because the symptoms are very vague until the cancer has spread.’
Prof Barreto said that while it is understandable people, especially men, prefer not to think about the warning signs of cancer, they could save their lives with proper vigilance.
‘We just need to make people aware; we don’t need to frighten them,’ he said.
‘So don’t ignore worrying symptoms and talk to your GP about them.
‘Let’s just acknowledge the disease is on the rise and if there is something concerning talk to a healthcare professional.
‘If it is not cancer you can relax your mind because you have so many other things to live on for.’
Prof Barreto also notes that despite the general decline in smoking, it remains the leading factor for pancreatic cancer.
‘People have reduced smoking but increased vaping so still exposed to the same stressors – old wine in new bottles, so to speak,’ he said.
While the risk of cancer can’t be reduced to zero by adopting healthy habits, it still pays dividends, according to the specialist surgeon.
‘It’s not like if you live a perfect life you are not going to get cancer but even if you do, your ability to deal with the treatments being offered will be better than someone who has been exposed to a lot of stressors,’ Prof Barreto said.
