Kenneth Glad
A growing number of younger adults are being diagnosed with bowel cancer, prompting concern among health experts who say early warning signs are still too often overlooked. For one UK doctor, that trend became personal — and revealed how easily symptoms can be dismissed, even by those trained to spot them.
Rates of early-onset colorectal cancer have been increasing internationally, according to research backed by the American Cancer Society, with multiple countries reporting upward trends in younger age groups.
In the UK, Cancer Research UK reports that more than 46,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, with around 17,000 deaths annually. Health officials stress that while the disease is more common in older adults, it is not confined to them.
The NHS advises people to seek medical advice if they notice persistent symptoms such as blood in stool, changes in bowel habits, unexplained tiredness or abdominal pain. These signs can have other causes, but should not be ignored.
That broader pattern is reflected in the experience of Dr Anisha Patel, who has written about her experiences in an essay in the Daily Express.
A personal blind spot
Dr Patel was balancing her work as a GP with family life when she began noticing symptoms. She experienced bowel changes, bleeding and fatigue but attributed them to IBS, haemorrhoids and a demanding schedule.
At 39, with no family history, cancer seemed unlikely. That assumption, she writes, mirrors a wider issue where younger patients are not always prioritised for urgent investigation.
When symptoms persisted, she sought medical advice and was referred for tests. A colonoscopy and biopsy confirmed stage 3 bowel cancer in 2018.
“Hearing the word ‘cancer’ directed at you is something no one can prepare for,” she said.
Living with impact
Treatment involved surgery to remove part of her bowel, followed by chemotherapy. During that period, her husband continued his work as a consultant gastroenterologist diagnosing similar cancers — a reality that brought the disease uncomfortably close to both their professional and personal lives.
Although she is now cancer-free, Dr Patel says she continues to deal with fatigue, nerve damage and anxiety linked to the illness.
She is now advocating for earlier action and greater awareness, including support for the Stage4You campaign, which focuses on people living with advanced disease.
“These are not ‘wait and see’ symptoms. They are ‘get checked’ symptoms,” she said.
Her message is practical and urgent: If something changes and does not go away, get it checked.
Acting sooner, she suggests, could mean the difference between early treatment and a far more serious diagnosis.
Sources: Daily Express, NHS, Cancer Research UK, American Cancer Society, Stage4You Campaign
