Urgent warning as number of young people with bowel cancer surges – the 5 signs you need to know
MORE young people than ever are being diagnosed with bowel cancer, experts have warned.
A new report found under 50s in the US have double the risk of bowel cancer now than they did in 1995.
Bowel cancer is typically thought of as a disease that affects older people, over the age of 50.
But, experts have warned increasing numbers of young and middle-aged adults, are being struck by the disease.
In 1995, about one in 20 people in that age group were diagnosed with bowel cancer — in 2019, that number was one in 10, a study by the American Cancer Society (ACS) found.
Dr William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the ACS, said “environment and diet” could be responsible for the rise in cases among younger adults.
He said: “We’re not trying to blame anybody for their cancer diagnosis.
“But when you see something occurring in a short period of time, it’s more likely something external to the patient that’s driving that, and it’s hard not to at least think – when you have something like colon [bowel] cancer – that something diet-related is not impossible.”
Bowel cancer can sometimes be referred to as cancer of the colon.
The disease is America’s third most deadly cancer and Britan’s second.
There are around 42,900 new bowel cancer cases in the UK every year, according to Cancer Research.
And around six in 10 people survive five years or more after diagnosis – but catching it early is vital.
The screening age was last year lowered to people in their 50s thanks to the No Time 2 Lose campaign, spearheaded by Sun writer Dame Deborah James.
The cancer charity estimates 54 per cent of bowel cancer cases – 23,000 per year – could be prevented by healthier lifestyles.
A recent study found eating a healthy veggie diet could slash your bowel cancer risk by a fifth.
Dame Deb urged readers to be aware of symptoms, which include changes to your poo and tummy pain, before sadly dying of the disease aged 40 in June.
The 5 signs of bowel cancer need to know
If you notice any of the signs, don’t be embarrassed and don’t ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems.
The NHS says the five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo
- A change in your normal toilet habits – going more frequently for example
- Pain or a lump in your tummy
- Extreme tiredness
- Losing weight