Professor Arthur Sun Myint
Clinical oncology

Are our lifestyle choices causing the rise in colorectal cancer in young adults?

Written in association with: Professor Arthur Sun Myint

Published: 27/05/2020 | Updated: 23/11/2023

Edited by: Cameron Gibson-Watt

The number of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer has steadily increased over the years and now stands at around 12,000, according to Cancer Research UK (CRUK). However, the diagnosis of rectal cancer in young adults has also increased in the last few years, with some health experts believing our lifestyle and diet choices are partly to blame. This article explains more.

Is colorectal cancer common in young adults?

Although the incidence increases with age, and the majority of patients are above the age of 65 years, in the past few years we have seen an increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in younger age groups, and we are not sure why.

Although genetic factors play a role in some types of colorectal cancer, we still do not fully understand all the risk factors associated with the disease.

Why is colorectal cancer increasing in younger adults?

Although they aren’t solely responsible, a poor diet, obesity, and lack of exercise are all potential contributory risk factors. We are aware that these lifestyle factors can play a role in the development of colorectal cancer, but the data pointing towards this is not as clear as one might think.

There has been some speculation that eating red meat can increase the risk of colorectal cancer, but the supporting evidence in the published data is not as strong as, for example, the association of smoking and lung cancer. There is also mounting evidence that being overweight or obese can also be a contributory risk factor for the development of bowel cancer.

What lifestyle changes should young adults be making?

Changes in your lifestyle habits can contribute greatly to preventing colorectal cancer. Therefore, a precautionary approach is to limit red meat in your diet to no more than three portions (350–500g cooked weight) a week, and to avoid processed meat whenever possible.

It is also advisable to eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. A well-balanced diet combined with regular exercise appropriate to your health will keep your weight down and help guard against rectal and bowel cancer.

Colorectal cancer screening in adults

Another important thing you can do is to attend bowel cancer screening when invited, either Flexi scope when you reach the age 55 or faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) after the age of 60. Having regular screenings can help to detect early rectal cancer or to remove polyps which can become cancerous in the later years. This can not only save your life but, your rectum as well!

If you are worried about anything mentioned in this article, don’t hesitate to book an appointment with a specialist.

By Professor Arthur Sun Myint

Clinical oncology in Wirral

Professor Arthur Sun Myint is a renowned lead clinician in rectal brachytherapy based at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in the Wirral. He was appointed as a consultant clinical oncologist in 1988. Professor Myint introduced the contact X-ray brachytherapy (Papillon) facility into the United Kingdom in 1993 and championed to establish this as a standard of care for patients with rectal cancer not suitable for surgery recommended by NICE(IPG532). Professor Myint&n...

By Professor Arthur Sun Myint
Clinical oncology

Professor Arthur Sun Myint is a renowned lead clinician in rectal brachytherapy based at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in the Wirral. He was appointed as a consultant clinical oncologist in 1988. Professor Myint introduced the contact X-ray brachytherapy (Papillon) facility into the United Kingdom in 1993 and championed to establish this as a standard of care for patients with rectal cancer not suitable for surgery recommended by NICE(IPG532).

Professor Myint is the chief investigator in the UK for the ongoing international Phase 3 OPERA trial which randomises between external beam chemoradiotherapy with external beam boost against Papillon boost for patients who are fit but refusing surgery. 145 patients have been included in the trial, which is due to complete its recruitment in June 2020. He has organised the Papillon training courses annually at Clatterbridge since 2010, and has helped set up other centres, of which there are now nearly 20 centres in Europe with Papillon facilities, including 4 in the UK.

Over the past 27 years, Professor Myint has treated more than 2000 patients with contact X-ray brachytherapy, which is the world's largest cohort of patients treated by the Papillon technique. The Papillon team, led by Professor Sun Myint won the prestigious BMJ award for the 'Cancer Care Team of the Year' in May 2018. He has contributed hugely to his field of research and continues to do so, publishing over 100 peer reviewed papers and 8 book chapters on his research. Professor Myint often gets invited to speak at international rectal conferences on the Papillon treatment.

In recognition of his contributions to medicine, Professor Myint was awarded as an honorary clinical professor at the University of Liverpool in 2012. He was also appointed as a special advisor to NICE in rectal brachytherapy in 2006, 2014 and reappointed in 2019. In addition, he was appointed as a special advisor in oncology to the minister of health in Myanmar where he is originally from. He was the past president of International Contact Radiotherapy network (ICONE) and has served as chair of the GI GEC brachytherapy group at the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology since 2011. He is part of the consortium which won H2020 Marie Curie award for non surgical treament of rectal cancer (CAST) in 2019. This award will support him to continue further research into non surgical treatment of rectal cancer.