Britons have been warned not to ignore six vital bowel cancer warning signs, after new research revealed rates of the condition among people aged 25-49 have soared. Cancer Research UK has launched a new study investigating why bowel cancer is increasingly affecting younger people, aiming to recruit 250,000 UK adults to help identify potential causes.
The charity said there are about 48,200 new bowel cancer cases in the UK every year, but in 25 to 49-year-olds, they have risen by more than 50% since the early 1990s. The reasons for the rise are not yet fully understood; the new PROSPECT-UK study will investigate whether factors including diet, lifestyle, gut health and environmental exposures could be playing a role.
Six warning signs to watch for
Dr Asiya Maula, a private GP at The Health Suite, has listed the six body change warning signs people should be aware of, particularly if they persist or are unusual for them. She said: "Bowel cancer is still far more common in older adults, but the rise we are seeing in younger people is an important reminder that age should not automatically be used as a reason to dismiss symptoms."
"Many symptoms associated with bowel cancer are extremely common and can have much less serious causes, which is why people can sometimes put them down to stress, their diet or something they have eaten. But if you notice a persistent or unusual change, it is important to get it checked rather than simply assuming you are too young for it to be something serious."
The six signs listed by Dr Maula are: blood in your poo, which can easily be mistaken for piles; a persistent change in bowel habits, including diarrhoea or constipation; persistent bloating or stomach pain; unexplained weight loss; unusual tiredness or breathlessness, which can be linked to anaemia; and feeling like you still need to poo after going to the toilet.
Why are younger people getting bowel cancer?
Dr Maula added: "Seeing blood in your poo can be particularly easy to dismiss as haemorrhoids, while changes in bowel habits can be blamed on stress or diet. Of course, these symptoms are often caused by something much less serious, but that does not mean you should ignore them if they keep happening."
"Your GP would much rather investigate a symptom that turns out to be harmless than have someone delay seeking help because they thought they were too young to have bowel cancer."
Cancer Research UK says the reasons behind the increase in bowel cancer among younger adults are not yet known. The new PROSPECT-UK study will follow participants over time to investigate potential links between bowel cancer and factors including diet, lifestyle, gut health and environmental exposures.
Dr Maula said people should not assume that one particular food, habit or lifestyle factor is responsible for the rise. She said: "It is important not to jump to conclusions about why rates are increasing while researchers are still investigating the causes."
When should you see a GP?
Most changes in bowel habits will not be caused by bowel cancer, but persistent or unusual symptoms should be discussed with a doctor. Dr Maula added: "There is a tendency among younger people to wait and see if symptoms disappear, particularly when they are busy or think there is an obvious explanation."
"If something is persistent, getting worse or simply feels different from your normal, it is worth speaking to your GP. Being young does not mean you should ignore warning signs."
Experts at King's College London and health science company Zoe are searching for 250,000 adults across the UK to take part in the bowel cancer study. Prospect-UK will track people over a period, analysing diet and lifestyle factors.
Professor Sarah Berry, chief investigator of the trial and professor of nutritional sciences at King's College London, said: "Over just a few generations, our lifestyles, diets and environments have changed dramatically. But we don't know which of these changes are increasing people's risk of bowel cancer or which ones could help reduce it. We urgently need large-scale, long-term data to uncover the true causes of early-onset bowel cancer."
Dr Rosiered-Brownson Smith, study research associate at King's College London, said: "Although rates of early-onset bowel cancer are rising, it remains relatively uncommon, which means we need large groups of people to take part in research to help us understand why we are seeing this worrying trend."
"At the same time, our food environment has become increasingly complex, and this means we need to look at diet in much greater detail. In the UK, around 60% of our calorie intake comes from highly processed foods, but these foods are not all the same. They can differ substantially in their ingredients, processing methods and nutritional composition, even within the same food category."
