The number of breast cancer cases in women under 50 has surged five per cent in just one year, new analysis has shown. Since 2000, diagnoses in this age group have climbed by 16 per cent - with no equivalent surge for men. While no smoking gun has been identified, experts are concerned modern lifestyles are fuelling an epidemic in early onset cancer - defined as those diagnosed before the age of 50 - especially in young women.It comes as more than 8,500 younger women - who are not typically invited for NHS screening - are now diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK. Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, with more than 59,000 new cases a year. It’s estimated that 1.4 million people will be living with the disease by 2050. Dr Simon Vincent, chief scientific officer at Breast Cancer Now, said: 'With breast cancer cases on the rise, it’s never been more important to understand what’s driving this trend, to prevent breast cancer developing in the first place where we can, and to diagnose the disease early, when the treatment can be most effective.'While ageing populations and improvements in survival play a role, we know that at least 23 per cent of cases could be prevented through healthier lifestyle choices.' So what could be behind the mysterious surge in breast cancers in young people and how can you minimise your risk? The number of breast cancer cases in women under 50 has surged five per cent in just one yearDiets high in ultra-processed foods and saturated fats could be contributing to the rise More than a quarter of healthy years lost to breast cancer are due to lifestyle factors such as red meat intake and diets high in fat and ultra-processed foods, research has shown. Potassium nitrate - which is commonly used to cure bacon and ham - has been linked with a 22 per cent increased risk of breast cancer. Meanwhile, following a Mediterranean diet - rich in fibre, healthy fats and lean proteins - could help reduce the risk of developing one of the most aggressive and hardest to treat breast cancers by 40 per cent. According to data from more than 1.8million people, vegetarians also have a 9 per cent lower chance of breast cancer compared with meat eaters. Hormonal contraceptives and HRT may raise the risk - but benefits often outweigh harms Both the contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have long been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. This is because they contain the sex-hormone oestrogen, which many types of breast cancer rely on.