Getting To the Bottom of It?

The journal, Annals of Oncology (cancer studies), predicts that, in 2024, UK bowel cancer rates will 'rocket' in younger adults. In the 25-49 age group, 39 and 26% increases in bowel cancer are forecasted for females and males, respectively (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/jan/29/uk-bowel-cancer-death-rates-forecast-to-rise-by-third-among-under-50s). A half of bowel cancers are actually preventable. The causes of the forecasted wave of new cancers, are well-established. The predicted increases, are due to UK 'surges' in obesity; poor diet (mainly a lack of fibre and a current tendency to eat too much processed meat) and a lack of regular physical exercise. Medics advocate that young adults should be more strongly encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles. That's likely to be difficult for folk 'on the bread line', exposed to a cost of living crisis. Food company advertising and labelling can also be distinctly unhelpful (these need much stronger enforcement and clarification). It's also been suggested that earlier screening for bowel cancer would cut the rates. That's also not easy, given the current funding and recruitment problems in the National Health Service. This UK bowel cancer 'pandemic' really ought to have a higher profile. It's an awful disease: all the sadder, when a high proportion of its incidence can be prevented!