Bowel cancer rates have doubled in young Australians

Bowel cancer rates have doubled in young Australians 20-29 years and are up by 35 per cent in 30-39 year olds over the past 20 years according to research published in the Journal of Gastroenterology.

While bowel cancer rates are stabilising or dropping in over 50s, research has found a global trend towards a higher incidence of bowel cancer in young people. In Australia around 1000 cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed in people under 50 each year.

Bowel cancer in young people is usually found after the investigation of symptoms such as rectal bleeding or abdominal pain. However the relatively low risk of bowel cancer in young people means there is often a delay in diagnosis as symptoms are dismissed as being associated with minor conditions such as haemorrhoids. Researchers also found that young people are also unlikely to be offered screening unless there is a family history which falls under the Australian screening guidelines. As a result, bowel cancer is detected at a much later stage of the disease.

Experts say the rise in bowel cancer rates in young people is linked to growing fast food and red meat consumption, increasing obesity levels, sedentary lifestyles and early diabetes.

Source: bodyandSoul