Recent deaths of young women in the Moncton region remind us: cancer tends to tackle populations younger than before.
Marie-France Robichaud was only 32 years old when she died on June 12, after having fought since October 2023 against skin cancer on the tongue.
“The best description I could give you of Marie-France is that it was a ray of sunshine,” recalls one of her close friends, Valérie Lévesque, who evokes someone “funny”, “authentic” and “listening to people near her” until the end.
And that, even when the disease and the treatments had weakened this young woman involved in the artistic community of Moncton, where she notably co -founded the center of F STOP artists.
“When I was seeing her in the hospital, it was I who was crying, and it was she who made me win to make me laugh,” recalls Valérie Lévesque.
“She was supposed to be my bridesmaid at my wedding that summer, she had given herself the goal of holding until that time.”
Alas, stories like that of Marie-France, we risk seeing more and more. Indeed, a study published in September 2023 in the journal BMJ ONCology estimated that between 1990 and 2019, the incidence of cancers increased by 79% among those under 50 worldwide.
Several other recent research carried out in different countries corroborate this result.
“Depending on the study we look at, there are 16 or 18 types of cancer for which we have seen increases, so it is not a type [de cancer] In particular, ”explains hematologist and medical oncologist Denis Soulières, spokesperson for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Particularly targeted 30-50s
Usually, it is the over 50s that are especially affected by cancer, with a peak between 60 and 70 years, he recalls. Below, cancer is deemed early.
Certain types of cancer, such as leukemia or lymphomas, however have peaks in much younger populations, then see their impact decrease with age before going back to over 50s. On June 19, a student from the University of Moncton, Grace-Marguerite Akpenan, was swept away by blood cancer at the age of 21, causing a shock in the university community.
Today, it is the 30-50 year old tranche that is struck by the highest increase in cases. And in this population, cancer cases are more numerous in women, which are notably struck by breast cancer.
According to Doctor Soulières, this is mainly due to the fact that we are increasingly exposed to environmental factors that can cause cancer.
“The origin of cancer is an inflammation that our body is trying to repair,” he popularized. This inflammation is caused by something, which can be bad eating habits, obesity, UV rays, tobacco, alcohol … “
The list is incomplete, since air pollution, chemicals present in certain working areas or ultra-transformed foods are other possible causes. And in recent years, only exposure to tobacco and alcohol decreases.
Cancer takes time to develop, so the current increase in incidence is due to our past exhibition. Which brings us to the worst news: it is likely that the trend will be maintained, a consequence of our current exhibition.
As for good news, Denis Soulières notes good advances in recent years with regard to screening, including blood testing which could soon make people at risk better.
In general, and especially in a context where access to front line care becomes difficult, universal screening programs (such as that for breast cancer) will continue to be important, but it will certainly have to be expanded to a younger audience, plans the doctor.
Some figures
The most frequently diagnosed cancer in Canada
Among 15-29 year olds:
- thyroid cancer: 16% of cases
- testicular cancer: 12%
- Hodgkin’s lymphoma: 11%
- Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma: 7%
- leukemia, colorectal cancer, brain tumors and spinal cord, melanoma: 6 % each
Among the 30-49 year olds:
- can be can be: 24%
- thyroid cancer: 12%
- cancer colorectal: 9%
- Melanoma: 7%
- Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma: 5%
Source: Canadian Statistics on Cancer 2023
In New Brunswick, there were 400 new cancer cases in under 50 years in 2022 (145 men and 255 women).
Source: Statistics Canada
