The report Las cifras del cáncer en España 2026, prepared by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and Redecan, indicates that over 8,000 cancers will be diagnosed in the 20 to 30 age group in Spain during 2026. Of these, 3,400 will be in men and 4,800 in women, with breast (20.5%) and thyroid (13.4%) tumors being the most frequent in this demographic.
SEOM oncologists suggest that this increase in the young population could be related to risk factors such as inadequate diets, microbiota dysfunction, obesity, and excessive antibiotic use. This data was presented ahead of World Cancer Day, to be celebrated on February 4.
“"Among the tumors that are growing the most in this population, colon, breast, pancreas, stomach, testicle, and endometrium stand out."
In global figures, the 301,884 diagnoses projected for 2026 represent a slight increase of 2% compared to 2025 (296,103 cases). Projections by SEOM and Redecan, which use data from the INE and the WHO, estimate that incidence will exceed 350,000 cases in Spain by the year 2050. The most frequently diagnosed cancers will be colon and rectum (44,132), breast (38,318), lung (34,908), prostate (34,833), and urinary bladder (23,929).
By sex, there is a clear decrease in lung and bladder cancer in men due to the reduction of smoking habits. However, in women, lung cancer remains the third most incident tumor since 2019, due to increased tobacco consumption starting in the 1970s. The constant increase in cancers in recent decades is also explained by population growth, aging, and exposure to avoidable risk factors such as alcohol, obesity, or a sedentary lifestyle.
The president of SEOM, Javier de Castro, noted that patient survival in Spain has doubled in the last 40 years and is expected to continue increasing thanks to new treatments and the implementation of screening programs, such as for colorectal cancer.
