Bowel cancer deaths could rise by 40pc among young people

The rate of bowel cancer deaths in young people may rise by up to 40 per cent after being driven by a rise in obesity and alcohol consumption, scientists predict.

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 only other groups facing “unfavourable trends”.

Rates of cancer are on the decline among older people, however, in both the UK and EU, creating a positive landscape overall.

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.

‘Heavier drinking in UK’

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.

“Alcohol consumption has been linked to early onset bowel cancer, and countries where there has been a reduction in alcohol consumption, such as France and Italy, have not experienced such marked rises in death rates from this cancer.

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

He added that governments should consider combating these lifestyle issues by promoting healthy diet, exercise and moderate alcohol consumption.

“In terms of prevention, governments should consider the extension of screening for bowel cancer to younger ages, starting at 45 years,” Prof La Vecchia said.

In England, people aged 60 to 74 are invited for bowel cancer screening and the programme is expanding to everyone aged 50 to 59.

Positive picture overall

The study, published in Annals of Oncology, 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.

However, because more people are living longer and the number of elderly people is on the rise, the scientists say this reduction is not enough to prevent an increase in the total number of cancer deaths.

For example, around 1,000 more men and 800 women are expected to die of bowel cancer in the UK 2024 than in 2018.

It is behind only lung and breast cancer for the total number of cancer deaths and in non-smokers the disease is the biggest cancer killer.

Dr Panagiota Mitrou, director of research, policy and innovation at the World Cancer Research Fund, said of the new study: “It is alarming to see the high predicted rises in bowel cancer death rates, especially in younger people in the UK.

“Promoting healthy habits such as a balanced diet low in fat sugar and salt, having a healthy weight from early on in life, and avoiding alcohol, as well as early detection, should be central to UK government health policy and a comprehensive national cancer plan, which includes a strong focus on prevention, is of utmost importance.”

A Department of 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.”