IBD Patients Face 600% Higher Risk of Early-Onset Bowel Cancer, Experts Warn
Millions of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at serious risk of developing deadly colorectal cancer before the age of 50, according to one of Britain's leading experts. Professor Sarah Berry, a nutrition scientist at King's College London, reveals that this lifelong condition, which causes debilitating stomach pains, increases the risk of bowel cancer by approximately 600 percent.
The Link Between IBD and Colorectal Cancer
Inflammatory bowel disease, an umbrella term for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, damages the lining of the bowels, significantly raising the likelihood of life-threatening tumours forming. Colorectal cancer, once primarily associated with older age groups, is now surging among young people in the UK and many other nations. Individuals under 50 in Britain are 50 percent more likely to develop this cancer compared to their counterparts in the early 1990s.
While the exact cause of this rise remains unclear, Professor Berry, who leads the £20 million Prospect study aimed at solving this mystery, points to growing evidence implicating IBD. "IBD patients have a higher risk of early-age colorectal cancer than the rest of the population," she states. "Research in Sweden has shown the condition leads to a six-fold increase in diagnoses. The main theory is that the persistent inflammation in the bowels triggers the cancer."
Rising Cases and Undiagnosed Patients
IBD affects around half a million people in the UK and 2.4 million in the US, with the majority under 50. Alarmingly, research indicates that IBD is on the rise in the UK, and thousands of patients are currently undiagnosed. Experts emphasise that identifying and treating these individuals is crucial for combating early-age bowel cancer.
Every year, approximately 44,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with bowel cancer, which claims about 17,000 lives annually. Early signs include persistent changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhoea and constipation, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. Traditional risk factors like obesity, lack of exercise, and alcohol consumption have long been associated with the disease, but recent studies highlight a worrying trend among younger adults.
Potential Causes and Dietary Links
Experts are exploring several possible causes behind the mystery rise in early-age bowel cancer. In 2023, a study found that female patients born by cesarean delivery had a higher likelihood of early-onset colorectal cancer. Another leading theory focuses on the increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, which make up about 40 percent of the British diet—one of the highest levels in Europe.
"It's already known that patients who have an unhealthy diet high in processed meats and sugary drinks are more likely to get bowel cancer," says Professor Berry. "There is also some evidence that additives found in ultra-processed foods could inflame the bowel and raise the risk of cancer. We don't know that for certain, but it's something that needs to be investigated."
Interestingly, research suggests that ultra-processed foods may also contribute to the rise in IBD cases. A 2021 study published in the British Medical Journal found that diets high in ultra-processed foods increase the risk of developing IBD. In 2023, Swedish researchers published a study in the medical journal Cancers, confirming that IBD patients were nearly 600 percent more likely to develop early-age bowel cancer.
Health Conditions and Screening Recommendations
The Swedish study also revealed that patients with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a large waistline were around 360 percent more likely to get colorectal cancer at a young age. The researchers concluded that individuals with these underlying health issues should be considered for bowel cancer screening to enable early detection.
Currently, in the UK, only those aged between 50 and 74 are screened for bowel cancer using an at-home faecal immunochemical test (FIT). The researchers added that effectively treating IBD could lower cancer risk. Both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis can be managed with biologic drugs, which limit immune system damage to the body.
Treatment Delays and Public Awareness
However, many IBD patients in the UK do not receive timely treatment. A 2024 survey found that one in seven adults with IBD were only diagnosed and treated after an emergency hospital admission due to severe symptoms. This delay underscores the need for increased awareness and early intervention.
Notable cases, such as broadcaster Dame Deborah James, diagnosed at 35 and deceased at 40, and actor James Van Der Beek, diagnosed at 46, highlight the devastating impact of early-onset bowel cancer. As experts continue to investigate the links between IBD, diet, and cancer, public health strategies must adapt to address this growing threat to younger populations.
