California County’s Cancer Rates Rising Among Under-50 Citizens

Rising cancer rates are concerning as the illness tends to be more aggressive in younger people, report says.

A view of a close up of a lung x-ray of a cigarette smoker in an undated photo. American Cancer Society via Getty Images

California’s Orange County is seeing high cancer rates among younger people, a trend that’s being blamed on lifestyle and environmental factors.

“Orange County has the highest overall rate of cancer incidence in people under 50, compared to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego and San Bernardino counties,” said a March 12 report from cancer research group City of Hope. “The incidence rates for cancer in people under 50 in Orange County are the most pronounced in breast, colon, and lung cancer.” The surging cancer rate is concerning “especially because cancer in younger people tends to be more aggressive.”