Diet, lifestyle, environmental changes linked to massive cancer cases spike in under-50 adults globally

For example, evidence suggests that genetic factors, Epstein-Barr virus (common viral infection that spreads through saliva and body fluids), and environmental factors are thought to be significant contributors to the development of nasopharynx cancer. Still, more research is required to establish this link, they said.

The study also pointed out that the burden of early onset was higher in high-income countries. The incidence rate was the highest in North America and the lowest in western Sub-Saharan Africa (37.4 cases per 100k).