Bowel cancer cases in young people rising sharply in England, study finds

Rates of bowel cancer in young people are rising more sharply in England than in many other countries around the world, a study has found.

Early onset bowel cancer in those aged 25 to 49 is increasing globally, but England is among the countries with the biggest rise, averaging a 3.6% increase every year, researchers calculated.

Studies are ongoing to work out why more younger people are developing bowel cancer, but experts believe poor diet, more ultra-processed foods, obesity and a lack of exercise are playing a role.

“Concerningly, this research has revealed for the first time ever that rates are rising more sharply in England than in many other countries around the world.

“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.”

The study, published in the journal Lancet Oncology, 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 findings, said the rise in early onset cancers is no longer limited to high-income Western countries but is now a “global phenomenon”.

They found the “steepest inclines” in early bowel cancer incidence were found in Chile (4% annual rise on average), New Zealand (4%), Puerto Rico (3.8%) and England (3.6%).

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.

Furthermore, in contrast to the increasing rates in younger adults, 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.

“We need more research to determine whether there are notable differences in incidence rates between genders in this age group, and what might be causing this.

“We know that risk factors like diet, obesity, alcohol and smoking could be explanations for the rising incidence of early-onset bowel cancer in different demographics.

“Improvements to detection meaning that people are diagnosed at a younger age could also be playing a key role in higher rates.”

Data provided by the charity up to 2019 suggests bowel cancer has seen a 52% 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.

A global study involving the UK, called Prospect and led by experts in Massachusetts and St Louis in the US, is examining the global rise in bowel cancers in younger adults.