Cancer breakthrough as research shows the two key stages in life when we are most likely to develop the disease - as doctors scramble to discover why so many young people are falling sick

As American experts raise the alarm about junk food being a possible cause of rising cancer rates among young people, an Australian cancer specialist has revealed the two stages in life when we are most vulnerable to developing the disease. Associate Professor Savio Barreto, a cancer surgeon and researcher who works at Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre in South Australia, said that since 2015, there has been a worldwide increase in early onset cancer. Research done by Prof Barreto also indicates there are two crucial stages of life when 'stressors' are most likely to affect the body and cause cancer. Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre cancer surgeon and researcher Associate Professor Savio Barreto said there were two crucial periods of life where 'stressors' could effect the body and cause cancer Even though a person can't do anything about their mother's exposure to stressors such as malnutrition, drugs or alcohol during pregnancy, Prof Barreto said they are able make better choices as a teenager and young adult. Early studies have shown that UPFs - foods that have been through several rounds of processing and have had artificial ingredients added to them - can alter the gut microbiome, which is the collection of healthy bacteria in our bodies 'In Australia, we have national screening programs for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers, with lung cancer screening to commence from next year,' she said.