Cancer cases rise among some adults under 50 in Sweden

Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen) reported 84,675 cancer cases among 76,868 people in 2025. Its first in-depth analysis of adults aged 18–49 found 5,670 people in that age group were diagnosed: 3,694 women and 1,976 men. Although cancer overall is more common in men, diagnoses before age 50 are more frequent in women, mainly because breast cancer often occurs at younger ages than prostate cancer.

The agency says some cancer types are increasing faster among adults under 50 than among older people, but the causes are unknown. Unhealthy lifestyle factors and insufficient physical activity are possible explanations; improved diagnostic methods may also contribute. Few people in this age group die from cancer, and mortality has declined slightly over time, but mortality is higher in areas facing greater socioeconomic challenges. The figures describe national registry data and do not establish why incidence is changing. Socialstyrelsen said healthcare should remain attentive to symptoms in younger patients so cancer can be detected in time.