Modern life is killing our children: Cancer rate in young people up 40 per cent in 16 years

In the last 16 years, the number of children diagnosed with cancer has risen by 40 per cent. A new analysis of government stats by researchers in the UK (the charity Children with Cancer) has found that there are now 1,300 more cancer cases a year compared to the year 1998, the first time all data sets were published. Although some of the rise can be explained by improvements in cancer diagnoses, the majority is likely caused by air pollution, pesticides, poor diet, and radiation.

Every year more than 4,000 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer in Britain; it is the leading cause of death in children aged one to 14 and is estimated to cost the NHS an extra £130 million a year, compared to just 16 years ago.

Diagnoses of colon cancer among children and young people has risen 200 per cent since 1998
Thyroid cancer has doubled
Ovarian and cervical cancers have also risen by 70 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively

From the article:

“Many items on the list of environmental causes are now known to be carcinogenic, such as air pollution and pesticides and solvents. There has been good research to suggest a mother’s diet can damage DNA in cord blood. Light at night we know is very disruptive for the body, which is why shift workers have such bad health.
Burnt barbecues, the electric fields of power lines, the electricity supply in your home. Hairdryers. It’s all of these things coming together, and it seems to be teenagers and young people that are most affected.”

But these are all things that can be prevented, even in small ways, through lifestyle changes: exposing kids to life, dirt, other sick kids- to boost their immune system, not painting kid’s rooms with oil-based paints, avoiding night shift work and processed meats in pregnancy, making better eating choices as a family, getting out and exercising, and loading up your home with plants that filter the air, are just a couple of ideas. Honestly, if you want to live a cleaner lifestyle, the internet can help. All it takes is a willing spirit and a simple Google search.

The Telegraph reports that in the UK, despite the increase in cancer rates, around 80 per cent of patients survive for at least five years. However, the aggressive treatments they have as children have major impacts on their future health, even if they do survive. There has to be a better way.

Source: Telegraph