How only 10% of all cancers are in adults under 50 but experts warn of an ‘epidemic’ of disease in young adults after Kate Middleton’s shock diagnosis

Just one in ten cancers are diagnosed in under-50s but cases are on the rise, data shows.

Reacting to Kate Middleton’s shock diagnosis, experts today warned of an ongoing ‘epidemic’ of the disease among younger people. 

However, they said a combination of catching the disease early and better treatments is resulting in improved survival rates.

The Princess of Wales, 42, bravely revealed doctors had discovered an unspecified form of cancer in tests taken after her abdominal surgery. 

In an emotional video message filmed at Windsor, Kate revealed the news had come as a ‘huge shock’ and that she and William ‘have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family’.

More than 375,000 cases of cancer are detected every year in Britain, the equivalent of 1,000 each day, according to Cancer Research UK.

UK figures suggest those aged 25 to 49 contribute to around a tenth (9 per cent) of new cases, with almost twice as many women than men in some age groups.

More than a third (36 per cent) of new cancer cases on average are in people aged 75 and over.

Adults aged 50 to 75, meanwhile, account for more than half (54 per cent) of all new cases.

Cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and bowel make-up the overwhelming majority of new diagnoses, accounting for around half in total. 

Dr Shivan Sivakumar, an oncologist at the University of Birmingham, said: ‘There is an epidemic currently of young people getting cancer — under 50s.

‘It is unknown the cause of this.’

Professor Andrew Beggs, a consultant colorectal surgeon based at the University of Birmingham, said: ‘Young onset cancer is by no means rare. 

‘I run a clinic for early-onset cancer in adults and we are seeing more and more people in their 40s with cancer.’

Professor Lawrence Young, an expert in molecular oncology based at the University of Warwick, added: ‘Cancer survival is generally higher in younger people. 

‘Early diagnosis and better treatments is resulting in improved outcomes, with survival rates doubling in the last 50 years.’

Figures suggest around one in two people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime.

According to Cancer Research UK, a third of all cases in the UK are preventable. 

The Princess of Wales’ cancer was discovered only after she underwent major abdominal surgery at The London Clinic in January. 

Kensington Palace has said it will not be sharing details of what kind of cancer the princess has, or what stage of cancer it is and has asked people not to speculate.

In a statement tonight, His Majesty said he is ‘so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did’ and remains in the ‘closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law’. 

The King and Queen said they ‘will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time’.

Despite the toll cancer takes on the UK, critical NHS targets for the disease, such as those for early diagnosis and treatment, continue to be missed in England. 

The health service is currently grappling with a post-Covid backlog of cancer referrals, with latest NHS data showing more than 10,000 patients did not start cancer treatment within two months of an urgent referral from their GP.

It means just six in 10 cancer patients (62.3 per cent) were seen within the two-month target.

NHS guidelines state 85 per cent of cancer patients should be seen within this time-frame. 

But, this target has not been met nationally since December 2015. 

Just 70.9 per cent of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days, down from 74.2 per cent the previous month. The target is 75 per cent.