The rate at which people under 50 in Britain die from bowel cancer will rise by a third this year, according to projections that experts say are alarming and stem from a rise in obesity, poor diet and physical inactivity. .
Mortality rates among those aged 25 to 49 are forecast to rise by 39% among women and 26% among men by 2024, compared to the average between 2015 and 2019, the last five years for which the data was studied. The findings were published in the journal Annals of Oncology.
The research also predicts that death rates for bowel cancer will rise in women of all ages in Britain, another worrying trend that does not appear to follow the declining pattern of most other cancers.
Experts said the projections pointed to an urgent need to encourage adults to adopt healthier lifestyles earlier in life. The findings also prompted calls for people to be screened earlier.
According to Cancer Research UK, more than half of bowel cancer cases in the UK (54%) are preventable. More than a quarter of the cases (28%) are caused by eating too little fiber, 13% are caused by eating processed meat, 11% are caused by being overweight, 6% are caused by drinking alcohol and 5% is caused by too little physical activity.
Meanwhile, global concern is growing about the rising number of younger adults diagnosed with cancer. The number of people under the age of 50 worldwide diagnosed with the disease has increased by almost 80% in three decades.
The latest study looked at the EU’s five most populous countries – France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain – as well as Britain, and predicted cancer death rates in 2024 compared with average rates for the period between 2015 and 2019.
Overall, mortality rates for all cancers combined are predicted to decline. However, the research raised concerns about younger people and death rates for bowel cancer. With the exception of France, death rates from colon cancer among people aged 25 to 49 are expected to rise in the other countries by 2024.
Death rates in Italy are predicted to rise by 2.6% among women and 1.5% among men. In Poland and Spain the increase among men was 5.9% and 5.5% respectively, while in Germany the percentage among women is expected to increase by 7.2%. However, Britain showed much bigger jumps: 39% among women and 26% among men.
Britain is also the only country of the six where death rates from bowel cancer are expected to rise in women of all ages, albeit only slightly (1.4%).
The leader of the study, Prof. Carlo La Vecchia, professor of medical statistics and epidemiology at the University of Milan, said: “Key factors contributing to the rise in bowel cancer rates among young people include overweight, obesity and related health problems, such as high blood sugar and diabetes. Additional reasons include the increase in heavier alcohol consumption over time in Central and Northern Europe and the United Kingdom, and the decline in physical activity.
“Alcohol consumption has been linked to early-onset bowel cancer, and countries where alcohol consumption has declined, such as France and Italy, have not experienced such marked increases in death rates from this cancer.
“Early-onset colon cancer tends to be more aggressive, with lower survival rates, compared to colon cancer diagnosed in older people.”
La Vecchia added: “National governments should consider strengthening policies to encourage increased physical activity, a reduction in the number of overweight or obese people, and a reduction in alcohol consumption.
“In terms of prevention, governments should consider expanding bowel cancer screening to younger ages, starting at age 45.
“Screening programs vary across Europe, but an increase in the incidence of colon cancer among young people in the US has prompted the US Preventive Services Task Force to recommend lowering the age at which screening begins to 45.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “The independent UK National Screening Committee – which is made up of clinical experts – considers scientific evidence and decides on age cohorts to ensure a program does more good than harm.”
In England, people aged 60 to 74 are being invited for bowel cancer screening and the program is being extended to everyone aged 50 to 59. In Scotland and Wales, screening is offered from ages 50 and 55 respectively.
The Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Program offers biennial screening to people aged 60 to 74 who are registered with a GP.
Dr. Panagiota Mitrou, director of research, policy and innovation at the World Cancer Research Fund International, said: “It is alarming to see the high predicted increases in death rates for bowel cancer, especially among young people in Britain.”
The findings were “not entirely surprising,” she added, as young people were exposed to risk factors such as obesity early in life. Promoting healthy habits such as a balanced diet, having a healthy weight from the start of life and avoiding alcohol were crucial, Mitrou added.
Sophia Lowes from Cancer Research UK said: “These findings show a worrying increase in predicted deaths from bowel cancer in people aged 25 to 49. However, it is important to remember that the total number of people under the age of 50 who die from the disease is still quite large. small. Around 5% of bowel cancer deaths in Britain occur in people aged 25 to 49, with most people dying from the disease in Britain being older.
If people notice changes that are not normal for them, regardless of age, they should not ignore them and talk to their doctor, Lowes said. “In most cases it won’t be cancer, but if it is, catching it early can make a real difference.”