megan fitzgerald has more. >> reporter: tonight, reality setting in after the world was shocked by the latest revelation from the british royal family. >> in january, i underwent major abdominal surgery in london. at the time, it was thought that my condition was noncancerous. the surgery was successful, however tests after the operation found cancer had been present. >> reporter: in an emotional video message, the 42-year-old princess of wales saying she's now undergoing preventative chemotherapy treatments. a devastating message that hits close to home for people like may keen, who was 26 years old when she was diagnosed with stage four gastric cancer. what were your thoughts when you saw the princess' video message? >> i immediately thought cancer does not discriminate whether you're rich, poor, young, old. >> reporter: the princess of wales and may, both part of a growing and disturbing trend that shows cancer on the rise for young people across the world. the term is called early onset cancer and defined as people diagnosed under 50. a 2023 bmj oncology analysis found that 29 diff