Bowel Cancer Cases Rise In Young Adults

Researchers at King's College London are calling on 250,000 people aged 18 to 50 to participate in a study to investigate the rise of bowel cancer in young adults. The study, named Prospect-UK, aims to understand how diet, lifestyle, and environment contribute to the increased risk of bowel cancer in this age group.

Professor Sarah Berry, lead researcher of Prospect-UK, says that lifestyles, diets, and environments have changed dramatically over a few generations, but the exact causes of the increase in bowel cancer cases are not yet known.

According to Cancer Research UK, bowel cancer incidence rates in 25 to 49-year-olds have increased by more than 50% since the early 1990s. The charity is funding the Prospect-UK study through Cancer Grand Challenges.

Participants in the study will complete online surveys focused on their diet, daily lifestyle, environment, personal health, and related factors. They will also be asked to link their survey responses to their electronic health records, allowing investigators to monitor any future cancer diagnoses.

A smaller subgroup of participants will be selected to provide comprehensive dietary diaries along with blood and stool samples. The study will follow participants over an extended period to monitor dietary habits and lifestyle patterns.

Professor Prabhakar Rajan, a director and founder of healthXY Ltd, notes that the number of people under 50 who are diagnosed with cancer is still very low, but the sustained increase in diagnoses is notable. He says that greater awareness, testing, and changes in diagnostic practices may be identifying more cases.

Rachel Richardson, Methods Support Unit Manager at The Cochrane Collaboration, says that the data from the World Cancer Research Fund highlights a concerning trend, but it is essential to understand what is causing the rise in cases of certain cancers in younger people.