Cancer rates in Australians under 50 are rising at a pace that's alarming doctors and scientists

Submitted ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨hanrahan@slrpnk.net⁩ to ⁨australia@aussie.zone⁩

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-07/cancer-diagnosis-rates-under-50s-rising-causes-four-corners/105495620

Worryingly, Australia is a world leader when it comes to bowel cancer.

Instead, most experts believe toxins or toxic influences in the world around us are interacting with genes to cause malignant changes.

In other words, you might unknowingly carry a gene that’s only altered when you’re exposed to a particular chemical, whereas someone else who doesn’t have that version of the gene would be unaffected.

Lifestyle and pollution, who’d have thought /s

As I visit the city today (bus), I’m not sure how people tolerate the toxic transport pollution stench :(

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cronenthal@discuss.tchncs.de ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Microplastics, Forever-Chemicals, Air-Pollution, Food-Additives, Processed Food etc. and all even before you’re born. Take your pick or better yet, have them all!

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- Kayel@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  As a very toxin-paranoid person trained in biochemistry, PFAS always stood out to me. Sneaking into your DNA replication system, your body unable to differentiate them from their similar, natural chemicals. Big dipoles fucking shit up in replication and metagenetics
  
  Horifying
  
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maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

As I visit the city today (bus), I’m not sure how people tolerate the toxic transport pollution stench :(

There must be some desensitising to it from a young age e.g. getting a car, getting used to the smell of petrol every time you fill the tank and so on. Not to mention a lot of folk probably work in similar or more caustic environments so there would be some rationalising going on too.

Where we used to live in Sydney was a busy strip of cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, most of which had outdoor seating and dining by the main road which was usually two to four lanes of busy traffic at most times of the day. You look at the shopfronts and signs, the footpaths and building facades and it’s all covered in soot. Sure it’s not building up that quickly but you only have to see it once and say to yourself, this is not a healthy environment, maybe all these people oriented places shouldn’t be a highway. But nope, I never heard a word or complaint.

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- No1@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  I never got the sitting outdoors on a major road.
  
  Also, exercising (walking, running, cycling) where roads are, would surely be even worse for you?
  
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  - Ilandar@lemmy.today ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Cycling is somewhat understandable, but I completely agree with running and walking. It always baffles me when I see these people around my area going for walks or runs along a main road, breathing in all the traffic fumes, when they could do it on quiet suburban streets, around a lake or along the beach.
    
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  - vividspecter@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    One of the reasons people do use roads is that they are often flatter and in better condition, and you’re not competing for space with children and dogs. But better that than cars with all the risks that come with them (collisions and noise/air pollution).
    
    However, the health benefits of regular exercise tend to outweigh the risk of air pollution (although perhaps not in severely polluted cities like in parts of India). So it’s probably still worth it that’s the most convenient place to exercise.
    
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pulsewidth@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
We consumed alllll the BPA when we were young and it was unregulated. Same with PFAs in non-stick pans and microwave popcorn bags. Probably dozens of other toxic things that are now regulated but when we were young were heavily used and consumed as we grew.

Aussies also eat a lot of sausages, pies and processed meats, which is now known to be a cancer causer - including bowel cancer. Now we’re getting to the age where damage from all the above starts to manifest as cancers.

The question is did we do all of those things at just a slightly higher rate which led to the higher rates the cancer scientists are seeing now and worrying about - because it’s not like they can go back in time and measure our environmental factors and inputs, they largely have to estimate.

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- Ilandar@lemmy.today ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Diet might not be the only factor. We are also more sedentary at home and in the work place, and sitting for long periods of time is very bad for our health.
  
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- vividspecter@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Obesity is also a major factor for all-cause mortality, including cancer (and bowel cancer specifically which is one the diseases increasing in incidence).
  
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vipaal@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
What in the $&=>! Going on

Canada’s IBS is making similar headlines ctvnews.ca/…/canada-could-face-sharp-rise-in-infl…

My pea brained understanding is that IBS increases the chances for cancer in the bowels, colon, etc

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Almacca@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
We’re terraforming the planet to make it less habitable for humans, but think we can colonise Mars.

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