A recent study published in a top medical journal has revealed that Australia has the highest rate of early-onset bowel cancer among young people globally, a finding that is cause for concern. The study, conducted by the American Cancer Society and published in The Lancet, compared bowel cancer incidence rates in people under and over 50 years old across 50 countries.
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02-13, 2025The results indicated that Australia has the highest incidence of early-onset bowel cancer, with 16.5 cases per 100,000 people diagnosed annually. It is closely followed by the United States (15.2 cases) and New Zealand (14.8 cases). While Western developed countries remain at the top, there has also been an increase in bowel cancer rates in lower-income countries in Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean.
In contrast, bowel cancer rates in people over 50 are actually declining in most of the countries studied, including Australia. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer globally and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Although it is easily treatable in its early stages, it often presents with few symptoms until the cancer has spread.
Approximately 1,700 people are diagnosed with early-onset bowel cancer in Australia each year. Potential symptoms include blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, unexplained anemia, and persistent changes in bowel habits. In July this year, the Australian government lowered the eligible age for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program from 50 to 45. However, for those aged 45 to 49, screening is an opt-in choice rather than an automatic mailed test kit.
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows a 134% increase in bowel cancer rates among 20 to 34-year-olds over the past 18 years, prompting the policy adjustment. The reasons for the rise in bowel cancer among young people are not yet clear. The authors of The Lancet paper speculate that changes in dietary habits, including increased consumption of red and processed meats, sugar, and convenience foods, along with sedentary lifestyles among young people in high-income countries, may be contributing to the rise in incidence in this generation. On the other hand, increased awareness of bowel cancer and national screening programs in countries like Australia may be helping to reduce diagnoses in older people. The American Cancer Society's findings were published yesterday in The Lancet Oncology.
