Bowel Cancer Rates Are Rapidly Rising in Young Australians: What Can You Do to Reduce Your Family's Risk?

Colorectal cancer is now the #1 cancer killer for Australians aged 25–44, with cases doubling since 2000. Australians born in 1990 have double the risk of colon cancer and triple the risk of rectal cancer compared to those born in 1950.

What We Know

This used to be thought of this as an "older person’s disease," but with the incidence in younger adults is rising by nearly 3% every year we need to start focusing on gut health and prevention for our generation, and our children.  Early detection is key to effective treatment, but prevention is vital.

What’s Contributing

Ultra-Processed Foods: High-sugar, low-fibre and nutrient rich diets drive chronic gut inflammation, a known precursor to malignancy.

Processed Meats: Ham, bacon, and sausages contain nitrates that damage DNA.

Alcohol: Our high per-capita alcohol consumption is driving DNA mutations in response to acetaldehyde, reducing DNA repair in the gut.

The Microbiome: We now know that microbiome dysbiosis drives inflammation and some bacteria produce toxins that can drive polyp growth and alter DNA expression in the gut.

Improving Gut Health & Reducing Risk

Fiber is King: Aim for 30g+ of fibre daily to feed beneficial bacteria and reduce gut inflammation.

Variety: Eating 30-40 different plant foods each week can increase your microbiome species, which has demonstrated benefits for gut and systemic health.

Reduce: Limiting processed meats, inflammatory ultra-processed foods and alcohol can prevent inflammation and DNA damage in the colon.

Microbiome Testing: Testing can identify if you carry high levels of these oncogenic microbes, drivers of inflammation and low levels of protective short-chain-fatty-acids producing species

Know the Red Flags: Blood in stool, persistent changes in habits, or unexplained fatigue.

Don't wait for a screening kit in the mail at 50. If you have symptoms, see your GP ASAP