Bowel cancer deaths will surge in under-50s, scientists warn

Obesity and high alcohol consumption contributing to rapid rise in colorectal disease in younger people

THE rate of bowel cancer deaths in young people may rise by up to 40 per cent after a rise in obesity and alcohol consumption, scientists have predicted.

A study from an international team of scientists used data on cancer deaths across the EU and UK dating back to 2010 to predict the number of cancer deaths in 2024.

Analysis found that in UK women under 50, the rate of colorectal cancer deaths is expected to rise by 39 per cent from 3.3 people per 100,000 in the five years before the pandemic to 4.58 in 2024.

For men, the increase is 26 per cent, rising from 3.71 to 4.68 per 100,000.

The UK is the worst in Europe, according to data, and Italy is the only other country to see a rise in bowel cancer death rate for both its young men (1.5 per cent) and women (2.6 per cent). Polish men (5.9 per cent), male Spaniards (5.5 per cent), and German women (7.2 per cent) are the other groups facing “unfavourable trends”.

Rates of cancer are on the decline among older people, however, in both the UK and EU.

Younger people, the scientists say, are experiencing a dramatic increase in the rate of bowel cancer deaths due to lifestyles becoming more unhealthy in the last two decades.

Study author Prof Carlo La Vecchia, from the University of Milan, said: “Key factors that contribute to the rise in bowel cancer rates among young people include overweight, obesity and related health conditions, such as high blood-sugar levels and diabetes.

“Additional reasons are increases in heavier alcohol drinking over time in central and northern Europe and the UK, and reductions in physical activity.

He added: “Early onset bowel cancer tends to be more aggressive, with lower survival rates, compared to bowel cancer that is diagnosed in older people.”

He said that “governments should consider the extension of screening for bowel cancer to younger ages, starting at ages 45 years”. In England, people aged 60 to 74 are invited for bowel cancer screening and the programme is expanding to everyone aged 50 to 59.

The study found that although the rate of deaths from bowel cancer is on the rise in under 50s it is, overall, a positive picture.

Rates in men are predicted to decline by more than 3 per cent, while they are stable for women in the UK, data show.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We are taking strong action to encourage healthier food choices and to tackle obesity, recognising that it increases the risk of a range of serious and chronic diseases and costs the NHS around £6.5 billion a year.” The study was published in