Australia has the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world for people aged under 50.
New research by the University of Melbourne has revealed that there were more than 28,000 cases of aggressive types of early-onset bowel cancer diagnosed over the past 30 years, with instances increasing each year by up to eight percent.
Study author Professor Mark Jenkins said bowel cancer incidence was two to three-fold higher among Australians born in the 1990s, compared to those born in the 1950s, with the annual increase in cases leading to thousands of extra cases.
“Our inability to halt the rising burden of early-onset bowel cancer over the last 30 years has resulted in over 4300 excess cases being diagnosed among young Australians,” Professor Jenkins said.
He said the Australian research supported international research which revealed Australia now had the highest rates of early-onset bowel cancer in the world, with a faster increase found in women than in men.
“The international research compared bowel cancer rates in those aged under and over 50 in 50 countries worldwide.”
Bowel Cancer Australia CEO Julien Wiggins said the research showed the rising incidence of early-onset bowel cancer.
“However, bowel cancer rates among those over 50 were falling in many of the countries studied, including Australia,” Mr Wiggins said.
He said the risk of being diagnosed before age 40 had more than doubled since 2000, and one-in-nine new bowel cancer cases now occurred in people under age 50.
“As screening is not routinely offered to people at average risk under 45, we need to improve awareness among GPs and the public about the red flag signs and symptoms of early-onset bowel cancer,” Mr Wiggins said.
