Calls for early-onset bowel cancer to be considered ‘new disease’ as cases surge among young Aussies

Doctors are warning early-onset bowel cancer should now be considered a “new disease”, with cases in young Australians surging and behaving differently to traditional bowel cancer.

Bowel cancer is now the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25 to 54 with 1880 young people diagnosed every year. That’s five every day.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Calls to declare early-onset bowel cancer new disease

International research suggests rates could double every 20 years - if current trends continue.

Oncologist and Bowel Cancer Australia spokesperson Dr Prasad Cooray says the disease emerging in younger patients is fundamentally different from 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 doesn’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, tend to behave biologically more aggressively.”

One mutation, known as BRAF, appears more common in younger women and is linked to more aggressive disease and chemotherapy resistance.

Researchers are also investigating possible drivers including gut microbiome changes, ultra-processed foods, antibiotics, sweetened beverages, microplastics and 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,” Bowel Cancer Australia CEO Julien Wiggins said.

Doctors are also concerned about delayed diagnosis, with younger patients investigated less often despite rising rates.

Chloe Newton, 29, says she spent more than a year experiencing stomach pain, bloating and concerning symptoms before finally 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 warning.

The 36-year-old says he had no symptoms at all before suddenly becoming ill during a family holiday. Scans later revealed the cancer.

Despite undergoing gruelling chemotherapy, Clarke recently completed a marathon between chemo cycles to raise money for bowel cancer research and awareness.

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 wants all young Australians to trust their gut: “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”