A new report has found that people are being diagnosed with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers at an earlier age.

The report, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, says that there is a trend in early on-set cancers of the stomach, pancreas, esophagus, colon and rectum.

Data has found that these cancers are on the rise among people ages 50 and younger. Cases are also increasing 2% annually.

Doctors and researchers do not know why young people are developing GI cancers, but say contributing factors include heredity, obesity, eating poorly and living a sedentary lifestyle. Gut bacteria and environmental factors such as exposure to chemicals in the air, water and food can also impact a person's risk.

As a result, doctors are encouraging people to get screened for cancer to either prevent or detect the disease.

They recommend people become their own patient advocates and visit a doctor if something doesn't seem right.

Doctors say even if a person feels fine, they should still see a doctor for routine appointments and cancer screenings, depending on their age and risk profile.