The number of deaths from bowel cancer will increase by 2,500 per year by 2040, according to a new analysis.
The number of people in Britain diagnosed with the disease will rise by around a tenth in that time.
Experts say that the increasing aging population is the main driver of this increase, but admit that there are also more and more young people.
Obesity, eating too much red meat and not enough fiber can also cause the disease.
Analysis released by the Bowelbabe Fund – set up in memory of Deborah James – predicted that if current trends continue, the number of 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 ongoing need for life-saving cancer research and the importance of raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease.
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Analysis released by the Bowelbabe Fund – set up in memory of Deborah James (pictured) – predicted that if current trends continue, the number of bowel cancer cases will rise from the current 42,800 to 47,700.
Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poop, a change in bowel habits, or a lump in your bowel that can cause blockages. Some people also suffer from weight loss as a result of these symptoms
Dame Deborah was a passionate advocate for this and in May 2022 the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK was established to continue her legacy.
The fund has raised £13 million to help tackle bowel cancer and has now committed £10 million to support seven ground-breaking projects that are helping more people get more time with the people they love.
As part of this, £5 million has been committed over the next five years to support the work of the Cancer Grand Challenges team PROSPECT, which is researching early-onset bowel cancer.
This form of cancer is increasing, but is not yet well understood. Deborah was only 35 when she was diagnosed with colon cancer.
Beth Vincent, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: ‘It is important to remember that cancer is primarily a disease of older age, with the majority of new cancer cases diagnosed in people aged 50 and over.
‘The predicted increase in the number of people diagnosed with bowel cancer in Britain can largely be explained by our growing and aging population.
‘Globally and in the UK we are seeing a small increase in the number of cases of young bowel cancer, affecting people aged between 25 and 49 years old.
‘Although the number of cases seems very high, 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 changes that are not normal for you, or something that doesn’t go away, don’t ignore it and contact your doctor.
‘In most cases it won’t be cancer, but if it is, catching it early can make a big difference.’
Approximately 43,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer each year, with approximately 17,000 deaths.
Other funded projects include exploring the use of artificial intelligence, blood tests to detect the earliest signs of cancer and understand how bowel cancer spreads, and a new state-of-the-art interventional radiology X-ray machine at The Royal Marsden .
Chief executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell, said: “We are honored that Deborah has entrusted us with keeping her legacy alive by raising money to support the ground-breaking research and brilliant awareness work that she was so passionate about.
‘As cases of bowel cancer are set to rise, we will continue to work with her family to continue to fund work that will make the most difference to people affected by cancer and their loved ones.’