Doctors are issuing a stark warning that early-onset bowel cancer should now be considered a "new disease," as cases among young Australians surge and exhibit distinct characteristics compared to traditional bowel cancer. Bowel cancer has become the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25 to 54, with 1,880 young people diagnosed annually—that's five new cases every single day. International research suggests that if current trends persist, rates could double every 20 years.
A Distinct Disease Entity
Oncologist and Bowel Cancer Australia spokesperson Dr. Prasad Cooray explains that the disease emerging in younger patients is fundamentally different from the bowel cancer historically seen in older Australians. "It appears to be actually a new disease driven by factors that we don't yet understand," Dr. Cooray told 7NEWS. "The traditional risk factors for bowel cancer development don't seem to apply to younger patients."
Researchers are identifying biological and genetic differences in younger patients, including more aggressive mutations and different patterns of spread. "The disease itself behaves differently to the traditional bowel cancer as we know it," Cooray said. "It seems to harbour more adverse mutations and tends to behave biologically more aggressively." One particular mutation, known as BRAF, appears more common in younger women and is linked to more aggressive disease and chemotherapy resistance.
Potential Drivers Under Investigation
Scientists are also exploring possible environmental and lifestyle factors that may be driving this rise. Potential culprits include changes in the gut microbiome, consumption of ultra-processed foods, antibiotic use, sweetened beverages, microplastics, and other environmental exposures. "This uncertainty underscores the urgency for research as we still do not fully understand why early-onset bowel cancer is on the rise," said Bowel Cancer Australia CEO Julien Wiggins.
Delayed Diagnosis a Major Concern
Doctors are also concerned about delayed diagnosis, as younger patients are often investigated less frequently despite increasing rates of the disease. Chloe Newton, aged 29, experienced stomach pain, bloating, and other concerning symptoms for over a year before being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer. "I definitely fell through the cracks with this one ... you almost gaslight yourself into thinking maybe I am going a little bit crazy, maybe there is nothing wrong," she told 7NEWS.
For Sydney father Chris Clarke, the diagnosis came without any warning. The 36-year-old had no symptoms before suddenly falling ill during a family holiday. Scans later revealed the cancer. Despite undergoing gruelling chemotherapy, Clarke recently completed a marathon between chemo cycles to raise funds for bowel cancer research and awareness.
A Call for a New Paradigm
Doctors are now calling for a major rethink in how bowel cancer is recognised, investigated, and treated in younger Australians. "We need to look at it with a new paradigm," Cooray said. "Recognising that this actually is a distinct disease entity. This is not just bowel cancer occurring earlier. It's actually a new disease that's affecting our young people."
Newton urges all young Australians to trust their instincts: "If you feel like something's wrong in your body, just trust your intuition and get it checked out, make sure that everything's okay."
