The number of people under 50 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 people aged 25 to 49 are rising globally, England is averaging a 3.6 per cent rise each year, one of the highest increases.
Experts believe that poor diet, the increase in ultra-processed foods, obesity and lack of exercise could be responsible for this alarming trend.
The study found that bowel cancer rates in young people increased in 27 of the 50 countries studied in the decade to 2017.
American Cancer Society researchers, 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 increase was seen in 14 mainly high-income Western countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway and Scotland.
The largest declines in early bowel cancer incidence were found in Chile (4 percent annual increase on average), New Zealand (4 percent), Puerto Rico (3.8 percent), and England (3.6 percent). hundred).
Young women were found to have faster increases in rates of early bowel cancer than men if they lived in England, Norway, Australia, Turkey, Costa Rica and Scotland.
While cases of early-onset bowel cancer in people aged 25 to 49 are rising globally, England is averaging a 3.6 per cent rise each year, one of the highest increases (File image)
Experts believe that poor diet, the increase in ultra-processed foods, obesity and lack of exercise could be responsible for this alarming trend (File image)
In contrast, bowel cancer rates tended to remain stable or decline in older adults in many countries, including England, partly due to the effectiveness of cancer screening programs.
Dr. Hyuna Sung, senior scientist at the American Cancer Society, said, “The global reach of this troubling trend highlights the need for innovative tools to prevent and control cancers related to dietary habits, physical inactivity, and excess weight.” body weight.
‘Raising awareness of the trend and various symptoms of early-onset colorectal cancer (e.g., rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, altered bowel habits, and unexplained weight loss) among youth and primary care providers may help reduce delays in diagnosis and reduce mortality. ‘
Cancer Research UK highlighted that rates of bowel cancer in younger adults remain low: only around one in 20 bowel cancers in the UK are diagnosed in people under 50.
However, chief executive Michelle Mitchell said this landmark study has revealed for the first time that rates are rising more sharply in England than in many other countries around the world.
He said: “A cancer diagnosis at any age has a huge impact on patients and their families; therefore, while it is important to note that rates in younger adults remain very low compared to people over 50 years, we need to understand what is causing this trend in younger people.’
Data provided by the charity up to 2019 suggests that bowel cancer has seen a 52 per cent increase in incidence rates among adults aged 25 to 49 since the early 1990s.
Every year there are around 2,600 new cases of bowel cancer in people aged 25 to 49 in the UK and around 44,100 new cases among all ages.
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.
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 from foods such as cured meats, mass-produced bread and ice cream in favor of healthier alternatives such as oily fish, fruit and vegetables is “vital” to avoiding the disease.
Commenting on the new findings published in Lancet Oncology, Dr Sarah Bailey, from the University of Exeter Medical School, said it was vital to carry out more research to understand the trend.
She said: ‘The reasons for this are not fully understood, but it is clear that we must look for the underlying causes.
‘In terms of real-world implications, approaches to tackling rising rates among younger adults in England will need to be carefully considered.
“As rates increase in younger adults, we will need to explore how we can expand our strategies to detect early cases in this group as well.”