These numbers are, well, they're not exactly uplifting.

A study published Tuesday in BMJ Oncology analyzed data from 1990 and 2019, finding a 79% surge in new cancer cases in people under 50 over the course of three decades. …

In 2019 alone, early-onset cancer cases in that age group totaled 3.26 million, an increase of 79.1% since 1990, according to the team of researchers from Zhejiang University School of Medicine and University of Edinburgh's Usher Institute.

What's causing the jump? Smoking, after all, has declined sharply, particularly among young people over the last few decades. It couldn't be tobacco driving those numbers.

The researchers posit "red meat, salt and alcohol" could be to blame. Your heart's got to sink looking at that list — that's the good stuff. Another explanation: Better medical practices. We might be finding more cancer simply because we're looking for it, "increasing uptake of screening and early detection in developed regions and countries" possibly driving the trend.

Thankfully, early screening efforts could help drive an overall decrease in mortality even if cancer rates themselves are elevated.

Researchers said lack of exercise could also contribute to high rates.

Basically, kids, you should eat a balanced diet, go on regular walks, and go to your annual checkups.

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