NHS data and charity research show rising cancer rates in adults under 50

Cancer rates are rising among younger adults, according to new NHS data and research from a leading cancer charity. The figures show increasing numbers of diagnoses among people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. The World Cancer Research Fund says the rise is not limited to bowel cancer. It reports increases in prostate, kidney, womb, liver, pancreas and breast cancers among the under-50s, while bowel cancer rates have doubled.

Clinicians at the new Royal Marsden young onset cancer service say they are seeing a dramatic rise in bowel cancer and other gastrointestinal cancers in young people. Researchers at King's College London, working on the biggest global study into bowel cancer, say people born in the 1990s have about three times the risk of developing early onset bowel cancer compared with those born in the 1950s.

Scientists are examining a wide range of possible causes. These include obesity, lack of exercise, pollution, microplastics, changes in diet, ultra-processed foods and hormone-disrupting chemicals found in everyday products. A Panorama investigation commissioned lab testing of four body mists from two discount stores. One product was okay. Two in a pack of three marketed towards children and bought from Home Bargains were not. Tests found that marshmallow kisses and blueberry muffin body mists, both made in China, contained DBP, a chemical banned in cosmetics. Experts say DBP is a hormone-disrupting chemical and exposure during key stages of development, including puberty, can be a risk. Applying it to the skin could be linked to increased health risks later in life, including cancers. Home Bargains said nobody was available to comment.

Dr Helen Croker, assistant director at the World Cancer Research Fund, said the reasons for the rise are not fully understood. Cancer is a complex disease that develops over many years, and behavioural risk factors such as being overweight, obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking and a low fibre diet are likely to play a part. She advised people to follow healthy behaviours, including keeping a healthy weight, eating plenty of fibre and wholegrain foods, limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking and limiting sun exposure. She said people should see a GP if they notice persistent changes that are not normal for their body, such as a change in bowel habit, a persistent cough, unexplained bleeding or weight loss.

Survival rates have improved a lot because of earlier diagnosis and better treatment. But rising rates in younger people remain a critical research gap, Dr Croker said. There was also some reason for optimism. In the King's College study, twin sisters Karen and Sarah increased the amount of fibre in their diets for four weeks. Scientists found improvements in markers linked to bowel cancer risk, with two out of three markers reduced. Leanne, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at 38 and is now 42 with stage 4 disease, said she backs more research into cancers in younger people. Scientists say much is still unknown, but the race is on to understand how more young onset cancers can be prevented.