{"id":9035,"date":"2025-02-04T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msd.ch\/en\/?post_type=news_item&p=9035"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:12:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T11:12:28","slug":"cancer-in-young-adults-growing-need-for-urgent-action","status":"publish","type":"news_item","link":"https:\/\/www.msd.ch\/en\/news\/cancer-in-young-adults-growing-need-for-urgent-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Cancer in young adults: Growing need for urgent action"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

>> Go to all press releases<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lucerne, February 4, 2025 \u2013 an ever-increasing number of young adults worldwide are developing cancer: over a million people under 50 succumbed to cancer globally in 2019, almost a third more than in 1990.<\/strong>1<\/sup> To commemorate the 25th anniversary of World Cancer Day on February 4, 2025, under the motto \u201cUnited by Unique,\u201d<\/strong>2<\/sup> MSD Switzerland (MSD Merck Sharp & Dohme AG) would like to draw attention to this development while calling for individualized, comprehensive support services for young cancer patients<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fig. <\/strong>2,000 young adults in Switzerland develop cancer every year4<\/sup> (photo: iStock)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cancer was long regarded as a disease of the elderly. However, current figures indicate a significant increase in incidence among young adults. The global incidence of cancer in the under-50 age group rose by almost 80 per cent between 1990 and 2019,1<\/sup> with a particularly marked increase in the number of patients in the under-50 age group who developed cancers of the breast, colon, pancreas, or kidney.3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

February 4, 2025: The 25th anniversary of World Cancer Day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The motto \u201cUnited by Unique\u201d is intended to express the fact that, although cancer patients are connected to each other by their diagnosis \u2013 each patient has individual needs and requires appropriate personalized care.2<\/sup> This also applies to young adults with cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the latest global cancer statistics (1990-2019), breast cancer accounted for 11.7% of all cancers with 2.3 million new cases, followed by lung cancer (11.4%) and colon cancer (10%), while lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths (1.8 million deaths, 18%), followed by colon cancer (9.4%) and liver cancer (8.3%).1<\/sup> The reasons for this are manifold: Researchers are of the opinion that changes in lifestyle, environmental factors and genetic predispositions play a role.5<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cancer in young adulthood: Between therapy and the future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the Swiss Cancer League, about 2,000 young adults are diagnosed with cancer in Switzerland every year.4<\/sup><\/strong> A cancer diagnosis usually hits young adults in the midst of a formative phase of their lives – during their education, at the start of their career or while planning a family. The disease can abruptly interrupt their plans for life with considerable physical and psychosocial stress. Key challenges include fertility issues, coping with the long-term consequences of therapy, and returning to everyday life.6<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psychosocial services are indispensable for young cancer patients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, psychosocial support services are just as important as medical therapy for young cancer patients ,7<\/sup> helping them to overcome emotional and social challenges while providing support during an uncertain phase of their lives. These services include psycho(onco)logical counseling, support for professional reintegration, and assistance with issues relating to family planning.7<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lack of psychological support and counseling services both before and after treatment8<\/sup> has been confirmed by the third Cancer Care Monitor (3. Krebsversorgungsmonitor<\/em>). <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Adequate support and specialized services for young cancer patients are however still lacking in Switzerland. \u2012 The results of the 3rd<\/sup> Cancer Care Monitor, conducted by the gfs.bern<\/em> research institute on behalf of MSD Switzerland in the form of a representative survey (with 1,255 quantitative interviews and 15 qualitative in-depth interviews with cancer patients from all across Switzerland, from September 6 to November 28, 2023), show that psychological support and counseling services for cancer patients before and after treatment are lacking.8<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite some initiatives, the specific needs of young cancer patients are still not being adequately met. Specialized services such as the AYA (Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer) program of the Basel Cancer League are the initial steps towards meeting the specific challenges of cancer patients aged 15 to 39.9<\/sup> In addition, cantonal cancer leagues offer counseling services that respond to the individual needs of young patients, such as issues relating to fertility or professional reintegration. 9,10<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gap in psychosocial care remains large despite these initiatives. Most of the services are locally available and are not accessible to all. There is an urgent need for comprehensive care with services specifically tailored to young adults. Only through holistic care can young people lead an independent and fulfilling life despite their illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Campaign titled \u201cFinding the right words: Communication with cancer patients\u201d11<\/sup><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Healthy individuals may find it challenging to communicate and interact with cancer patients, making the effort to be compassionate and empathetic while not appearing intrusive.11<\/sup> \u2012 MSD Switzerland, together with AstraZeneca, Bayer and BMS, supports the \u201cLeben mit Krebs\u201d (Living with Cancer) campaign, a patient platform, which offers tips on communication and interaction with cancer patients.12<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MSD is committed to the fight against cancer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

MSD (Merck Sharp & Dohme) has a long history of developing innovative medicines. MSD focuses on immunotherapy in the field of oncology, which aims to activate the body\u2019s immune system to fight the tumor. A strong commitment to research and development has enabled MSD to establish a comprehensive research program with more than 1,600 clinical studies. Currently, the portfolio includes oncological drugs for the treatment of various cancers and diseases related to cancer treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

World Cancer Day is an opportunity to raise public awareness of these gaps in cancer care while highlighting the importance of comprehensive support for young cancer patients. Society, research and health care are equally called upon to create a support system for cancer patients in the future. <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MSD\u2019s commitment to fight cancer in Switzerland (as of January 2025)13<\/sup><\/h2>\n\n\n\n