The number of under-50s with bowel cancer is growing at one of the fastest rates in the world, a major study warns.
While cases of early onset bowel cancer in those aged 25 to 49 is increasing globally, England is averaging a 3.6 per cent rise every year – one of the highest rises.
Experts believe poor diet, more ultra-processed foods, obesity and a lack of exercise could be responsible for the alarming trend.
The study found bowel cancer rates in young people rose in 27 out of the 50 countries studied in the decade to 2017.
Researchers from the American Cancer Society, who led the research said the rise in early onset cancers is no longer limited to high-income Western countries but is now a ‘global phenomenon’.
The rise was seen in 14, primarily high-income, Western countries including the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway and Scotland.
The steepest inclines in early bowel cancer incidence were found in Chile (4 per cent annual rise on average), New Zealand (4 per cent), Puerto Rico (3.8 per cent) and England (3.6 per cent).
Young women were found to have faster increases in early bowel cancer rates than men if they lived in England, Norway, Australia, Turkey, Costa Rica and Scotland.
While cases of early onset bowel cancer in those aged 25 to 49 is increasing globally, England is averaging a 3.6 per cent rise every year – one of the highest rises (Stock image)
Experts believe poor diet, more ultra-processed foods, obesity and a lack of exercise could be responsible for the alarming trend (Stock image)
By contrast, bowel cancer rates tended to remain stable or were falling in older adults in many countries, including England, partly due to the effectiveness of cancer screening programmes.
Dr Hyuna Sung, senior principal scientist at the American Cancer Society, said: ‘The global scope of this concerning trend highlights the need for innovative tools to prevent and control cancers linked to dietary habits, physical inactivity, and excess body weight.
‘Raising awareness of the trend and the distinct symptoms of early-onset colorectal cancer (eg rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, altered bowel habits, and unexplained weight loss) among young people and primary care providers can help reduce delays in diagnosis and decrease mortality.’
Cancer Research UK stressed bowel cancer rates in younger adults are still low, with only around one in 20 bowel cancers in the UK diagnosed in people aged under 50.
However, chief executive Michelle Mitchell, said this flagship study has for the first time revealed that rates are rising more sharply in England than in many other countries around the world.
She said: ‘A cancer diagnosis at any age has a huge impact on patients and their families – so while it’s important to note that rates in younger adults are still very low compared to people over 50, we need to understand what’s causing this trend in younger people.’
Data provided by the charity up to 2019 suggests bowel cancer has seen a 52 per cent increase in incidence rates for adults aged 25 to 49 since the early 1990s.
There are around 2,600 new bowel cancer cases in people aged 25-49 in the UK every year and around 44,100 new cases among all ages.
Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poo, a change in bowel habit, a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstructions. Some people also suffer with weight loss a s a result of these symptoms
It comes a day after US research suggested ultra-processed foods are causing chronic inflammation in the gut, which can lead to the disease.
They suggested switching foods such as cured meats, mass-produced bread and ice cream in favour of healthier alternative such as oily fish, fruit and vegetables is ‘vital’ to staving off the disease.
Commenting on the new findings published in Lancet Oncology, Dr Sarah Bailey, of the University of Exeter Medical School, said more research was vital to understand the trend.
She said: ‘The reasons for this are not fully understood, but it is clear that we need to be searching for the underlying causes.
‘In terms of the implications in the real world, approaches to deal with the rising rates in younger adults in England will need careful consideration.
‘As rates in younger adults increase, we will need to explore how we can expand our strategies to capture cases early in this group too.’
