This study by the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (which includes NCRI), published this week, assessed trends in incidence of colon and rectal cancer using data from 21 population-based cancer registries in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK.
An overall decline or stabilisation in incidence rates of both colon and rectal cancer was noted in most of the seven countries included, but significant recent increases among people younger than 50 years were noted in incidence rates of colon cancer in Denmark, New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, and rectal cancer in Canada, Australia, and the UK. Although rates trends in the under-50s were less clear-cut in some countries, all countries including Ireland showed evidence that the risk of colon and rectal cancer has increased among more recent birth cohorts.
The article is published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology.