Global cancer statistics of young adults and its changes in the past decade: Incidence and mortality from GLOBOCAN 2022

This study aimed to assess the disease burden of cancer in young adults globally and the changes between 2012 and 2022. In young adults, 47.22 % of new cases were breast, thyroid and cervical cancer, while the leading causes of cancer-related death were breast, leukemia and cervical cancer. Compared to 2012, the number of new cases and the ASIR increased by 25.89 % and 14.32 %, respectively, while the number of deaths and the ASMR decreased by 2.03 % and 10.69 %, respectively. However, cancer burden and its changes varied substantially across geographical regions, HDI levels and cancer types. In general, infection-related cancers were more common in less developed regions, but their incidence decreased significantly, while Westernized lifestyle-related cancers were more common in developed countries and their incidence is increasing. Cancer contributes substantially to health-related burdens in young adults, and the overall incidence has increased dramatically in the past decade. However, the incidence and mortality of cancer in this age group varied considerably by sex, cancer type, region, country and HDI level.