If you’re under the age of 50, you probably don’t expect cancer to be part of your story — at least not yet. But that assumption is increasingly being challenged, which is one reason Prime Therapeutics (Prime) is elevating the conversation now. Certain cancers are rising in younger adults, and the implications touch everything from screening and survivorship to cost and benefit design.  

In the latest episode of Prime’s “Pharmacy Friends” podcast, join host Maryam Tabatabai, PharmD, associate vice president of clinical information at Prime, and guests Abby Kim, PharmD, board-certified oncology pharmacist and senior director of clinical strategy and oncology solutions at Prime and Clint Williams, vice president of pharmacy at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE), to unpack what early-onset cancers mean for patients and for the organizations supporting them.  

“Younger adults are balancing cancer care alongside their burgeoning careers, family planning and financial responsibilities,” Kim said. “They may live decades with physical, emotional and financial effects of treatment. So, this makes issues like fertility preservation, mental health (and) long-term survivorship planning, important from the health care system perspective but also important from the payer perspective.” 

Factors impacting earlier diagnoses  

The episode underscores a concerning statistic: Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women under age 50.  

So, what’s driving the increase? 

“There isn’t really a single driver behind rising cancer rates in younger adults,” Kim said. “It’s a combination of improved detection, lifestyle factors and then underlying biology.” 

From a health plan sponsor perspective, Williams highlighted a practical challenge: Younger adults often aren’t routinely seeing primary care providers or getting screened, which can contribute to later-stage diagnoses, higher costs and poorer outcomes. He also put today’s oncology affordability reality into stark terms: “You’re not going to find a newer chemotherapy drug for really under $150,000 a year.”  

“The therapy (may be) more effective, but you are going to see much higher costs,” he said. 

That’s where Prime–Blue Plan alignment becomes essential. Oncology regimens increasingly span both the medical and pharmacy benefits, and Williams stressed that separating those data streams makes coordinated care more difficult. Kim added that combination regimens are common and benefit-spanning therapy is a meaningful share, reinforcing the need for an integrated, clinically based approach.  

Staying atop the latest trends in cancer care 

Prime proactively monitors the oncology pipeline across benefits and publishes forward-looking pipeline insights to help clients plan earlier for what’s coming.  

This conversation also connects with Williams’ broader thought leadership on the same topic, including his article on cancer in younger populations in Prime’s Fall 2025 Prime Therapeutics Report.  

Prime and BCBSNE share a priority: to help clients anticipate emerging oncology trends, manage the growing pipeline responsibly and keep every decision anchored in clinical evidence.  

Prime’s deep expertise and holistic view of care helps members manage their oncology drugs and experience less friction through their experience. Learn more about how Prime provides care for members with cancer.