Deaths from bowel cancer will increase by 2,500 a year by 2040, according to a new analysis.
The number of people in the UK diagnosed with the disease will increase by around a tenth during that time.
Experts said an aging population is the main driver of the increase, but admitted there are increasing numbers among young people.
Being obese, eating too much red meat and not enough fiber can also cause the disease.
An analysis published by the Bowelbabe Fund, set up in memory of Deborah James, projected that if current trends continue, bowel cancer cases will rise from the current 42,800 to 47,700.
Cancer Research UK said the figures are a stark reminder of the continued need for life-saving cancer research and the importance of raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease.
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An analysis published by the Bowelbabe Fund, set up in memory of Deborah James (pictured), projected that if current trends continue, bowel cancer cases will rise from the current 42,800 to 47,700.
Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your stool, a change in bowel habit, a lump inside the intestine that can cause blockages. Some people also experience weight loss as a result of these symptoms.
Dame Deborah was a passionate supporter of this, and in May 2022 the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK was created to continue her legacy.
The fund has raised £13 million to help fight bowel cancer and has now committed £10 million to support seven pioneering projects that are helping more people spend more time with their loved ones.
As part of this, £5 million has been pledged over the next five years to help support the work of the Cancer Grand Challenges PROSPECT team investigating early-onset bowel cancer.
This type of cancer is on the rise but is not well understood; Deborah was just 35 years old when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Beth Vincent, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “It is important to remember that cancer is primarily a disease of old age, and the majority of new cases of cancer are diagnosed in people aged 50 and over.
‘The predicted increase in people diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK can largely be explained by the growth and aging of our population.
‘Globally and in the UK we are seeing a small increase in rates of early-onset bowel cancer, which affects people aged between 25 and 49.
‘Although the number of cases seems very large, this increase is partly due to population growth, although this does not change how difficult it is for those diagnosed with cancer.
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‘No matter how old you are, if you notice any changes that are not normal for you or something that doesn’t go away, don’t ignore it, talk to your doctor.
“In most cases, it won’t be cancer, but if it is, catching it early can make a real difference.”
Every year around 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer, causing around 17,000 deaths.
Other funded projects include exploring the use of artificial intelligence, blood tests to detect early signs of cancer and understand how bowel cancer spreads and a new advanced interventional radiology x-ray machine at The Royal Marsden.
Cancer Research UK chief executive Michelle Mitchell said: “We are honored that Deborah has entrusted us with the task of keeping her legacy alive by raising money to support the pioneering research and brilliant awareness-raising activity she was so passionate about.”
“With cases of bowel cancer on the rise, we will continue to work alongside his family to continue funding work that will make the biggest difference to people affected by cancer and their loved ones.”