#24: Why More Young People Are Getting Cancer

And how to stay young by never retiring

Hey there!

So the results from the best guestwriter post was fun. Each person got at least one vote or honorable mention in the comments. But based off the results, the top 3 posts (also excluding the votes from the people that voted for themselves 😝) were:
#1: Sam - How to Maximize Misery
#2: Georg - Stream of Consciousness
#3: Sebastian - Always Up and Down, Never Down and Out
(Recommend reading these if you haven’t already)

Anyways, onto short news updates from Michael & Juan.

Sadly, Michaels girlfriend, Lina, got rejected for her Schengen visa to Europe, have to try something differently there (lmk if you have any tips for smuggling people over the border).

Juan is doing his engineering daddy thing and automating things for our accountability groups.

HEALTH

Why More Young People Are Getting Cancer

Hamster lab researcher

What is really alarming to Oncologists is this sharp rise in cancer incidence among young people.

When you look at the risk of being diagnosed with cancer at a young age, between 15 to 39, the risk has increased 40% from 1975 to now.

It’s mysterious, it’s concerning, and the whole cancer community is trying to work out right now.

There are 14 cancers that are increasing really rapidly among young people:

  1. Breast

  2. Colorectal

  3. Endometrial

  4. Esophagus

  5. Bile duct

  6. Gallbladder

  7. Head and neck

  8. Kidney

  9. Liver

  10. Bone marrow

  11. Pancreas

  12. Prostate

  13. Stomach

  14. Thyroid.

From interviews with Oncologists who treat younger patients, the vast majority of patients they see seem like role models for healthy lifestyles. These patients might be marathon runners or people who lead very healthy lifestyles. But they still get cancer.

By 2030, colorectal cancer is going to surpass breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer death among young people.

This is particularly true in Western societies. These are all places that eat more ultra-processed foods. Things that are easy, cheap, and fast to get. Cities where you drive everywhere, or have poorer sleep schedules.

So, what is causing this sharp rise in cancer?

There has been an increase in screening and testing for cancer, but this alone cannot account for the sharp increase.

One of the main factors seems to be diet. Of the 14 cancers mentioned above, 8 of them are related to the digestive tract. In our modern societies, our lifestyles have more sugar, more alcohol, low intake of water, high-calorie food with low fiber, etc.

We also have a more sedentary lifestyle. We don’t have that regular movement that offsets inflammation in the body.

Poor sleep is a very big factor. Most Oncologists agree with this. Many people are up late into the night and wake up very early for work, or have nightshift workers.

There are also environmental changes, like microplastics, toxins, and pollution. However, the correlation of these factors is much harder to measure.

Luckily, the whole cancer community is uniting to fight this and is pouring investment and attention towards this issue. That momentum is a real cause for optimism.

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— Juan

YOUTH

Stay Young by Never Retiring

Lately, I've been looking into the lives of America's founding fathers. I've listened to podcasts about George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and most recently, Benjamin Franklin. These were some of the most fascinating people of their century. Today, I’m going to be sharing some takeaways on how Benjamin Franklin stayed young at heart, inspired by an episode I listened to on the Travel to Zero Podcast.

Staying Young

Benjamin Franklin was in his 70s during the Revolutionary War and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He played a pivotal role in securing French support for the American cause. Even in his 80s, he remained active, focusing on abolitionist work and serving as the Governor of Pennsylvania. His relentless pursuit of passions kept him intellectually, socially, and physically engaged.

Franklin never retired from life, always finding new ways to contribute and stay engaged. This approach to life shows us that staying young is about maintaining a sense of purpose and continually seeking out what excites and motivates us.

Lifelong Learning

Franklin’s curiosity and dedication to lifelong learning were key to his youthful spirit. He constantly sought new knowledge and skills, believing in the power of education and self-improvement. Whether it was science, politics, or philosophy, Franklin's desire to learn kept his mind sharp and vibrant.

This teaches us that it’s never too late to start something new. Embracing lifelong learning keeps our minds active and fosters a sense of purpose and fulfillment, essential elements in staying young.

Social Connections

Franklin was a master at building and maintaining relationships. His ability to connect with people from various backgrounds and professions was crucial to his success. Social connections are vital for mental and emotional health, providing support and enhancing our sense of belonging.

By staying socially active and nurturing meaningful relationships, we can improve our quality of life and stay young at heart. Like Franklin, we should strive to build and maintain strong social networks, as they are key to a happy and healthy life.

"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." – Benjamin Franklin

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— Michael

TAKING ACTION

Sign up to our Accountability Clubs

Want a community to keep you accountable? Willing to put your money where your mouth is? 😂

How it works:
💸 Everyone makes the same deposit at the beginning of the month.
Every day you succeed, you get paid back a small amount from your deposit PLUS the money from others who failed that day.
Every day you fail, your money for that day goes to people who succeed.
🗓️ It is 5 times a week. Month-to-month contract. You can join or leave at the beginning of each month.

July Clubs you can join:
🏋️ Exercise 5 times a week.
Wake up early during weekdays.
📵 Digital minimalism during weekdays.
📝 Signup to join for July

Highlights from Exercise Club:

Here’s a gif of Anton, one of our exercise accountability group members. He uses the group to make sure he goes to the gym often.

Thanks for reading up until this point. We’re trying to keep making improvements to this newsletter. If you have any feedback from us, we’d love to hear it. You can leave it anonymous if you want, so no pressure. You can find our feedback form here, or you can message one of us about it!

Until next week 🫡.

Cheers, Michael & JuanW

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