A recent study published in the Annals of Oncology has brought to light a concerning trend in the European Union (EU) and the UK, particularly among young adults aged 25 to 49 years.
While overall death rates from cancer, including bowel cancer, are decreasing across Europe, there is a worrying increase in bowel cancer deaths among young adults.
This rise is attributed to lifestyle factors such as obesity, poor diet, and reduced physical activity.
The study, led by Professor Carlo La Vecchia from the University of Milan, specifically forecasts a significant increase in bowel cancer deaths among young adults in 2024 compared to 2018.
The UK is expected to see the most dramatic rise, with an estimated 26% increase in men and 39% in women. Other countries like Italy, Spain, Poland, and Germany are also predicted to experience increases, although to a lesser extent.
Key factors driving this rise include overweight and obesity, along with related health issues like high blood sugar levels and diabetes.
Additionally, heavier alcohol consumption over time in central and northern Europe and the UK, and a decrease in physical activity, are contributing to early onset bowel cancer, which tends to be more aggressive and has lower survival rates.
Professor La Vecchia emphasized the need for national governments to strengthen policies that promote physical activity, reduce obesity and overweight, and lower alcohol consumption.
He also suggested considering lowering the age for bowel cancer screening to 45 years, in line with recent changes in the US following a similar rise in young adult cases.
The study involved an analysis of cancer death rates in the EU’s 27 member states and the UK. The researchers looked at data on deaths from the World Health Organization and Eurostat databases from 1970 to 2018.
This is part of an ongoing research effort, marking the fourteenth consecutive year these predictions have been published.
Despite the predicted fall in age-standardized death rates for all cancers in the EU and the UK, the actual number of deaths from cancer is expected to rise. This increase is attributed to the growing number of elderly in the population.
Between 2018 and 2024, the number of cancer deaths in the EU is projected to rise from 675,265 to over 705,100 in men, and from 535,291 to over 565,700 in women. In the UK, the total number of cancer deaths is expected to reach approximately 172,900.
Over the past 36 years, the study estimates that around 6,183,000 cancer deaths have been avoided in the EU, and about 1,325,000 in the UK, compared to if rates had remained constant at the 1988 levels.
Despite these improvements, the rising trend of bowel cancer deaths among young adults calls for urgent attention to lifestyle factors and preventive healthcare measures.
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The research findings can be found in Annals of Oncology.
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