Bowel cancer surges to become the third most common cancer, NHS stats show
BOWEL cancer is now the third most common cancer, NHS stats show.
It overtook lung cancer for the first time since records began in 1995.
In England, there were 41,596 cases of it in 2021, and 39,635 lung patients.
Breast cancer is the most common type, followed by prostate tumours.
Bowel cancer is the second deadliest form of the disease in the UK, claiming 16,000 lives every year, after lung cancer, whick kills nearly 35,000.
The health service says raised awareness, helped by campaigners such as late Sun writer Dame Deborah James, has increased bowel diagnosis.
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But experts warn rates of it may also be rising because of our diets and lifestyles.
Bowel Research UK charity head Lynn Dunne said: “It is concerning that bowel cancer cases are now more prevalent than lung cancer.
“There are indications of a rise in the number of people under 60 being detected and treated for bowel cancer.
"This is possibly related to lifestyle issues such as poor diet and obesity and smoking are also known to play a role.”
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NHS figures show that bowel cancer cases are rising faster than cancer overall, with a 10.4 per cent increase between 2019 and 2021. Total cancer cases increased by just one per cent.
Record numbers of people have been getting tested for bowel disease, in part because of high-profile cases including Dame Debs, who died aged just 40 in June last year.
The Sun writer campaigned for years after being diagnosed in 2016 and encouraged Brits to “check your poo” for signs of the disease.
Between May and July 2022, either side of Debs’ death in June, 170,500 people were referred for suspected colorectal cancers, up by 30,000 on the same period in 2021.
NHS England said there was a surge shortly after the mum of two passed away.
NHS England cancer Prof Peter Johnson said: “We are forever grateful to people like Deborah James, who campaigned tirelessly to raise the profile of bowel cancer and the importance of early detection, and whose efforts have undoubtedly saved lives.”
More screening
Following The Sun's No Time 2 Lose campaign, NHS screening is being extended to younger age groups.
Simple at-home sample tests will be rolled out to all 50 to 74-year-olds by 2025.
Before, bowel cancer screening in England began at 60, while in Scotland tests were sent out to people on their 50th birthday.
The risk of developing bowel cancer drastically increases once you turn 50.
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Dr Lisa Wilde, from Bowel Cancer UK, said: “Screening is one of the best ways to detect the disease early when treatment is more likely to be successful.
“We hope to see a continued focus from the NHS on earlier diagnosis.”
Bowel cancer symptoms
The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo
- A change in your normal toilet habits - going more frequently for example
- Pain or a lump in your tummy
- Extreme tiredness
- Losing weight
Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.
In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction.
Other signs of bowel cancer include:
- Gripping pains in the abdomen
- Feeling bloated
- Constipation and being unable to pass wind
- Being sick
- Feeling like you need to strain - like doing a number two - but after you've been to the loo