“Careless pork costs lives”, wrote The Sun newspaper, a British tabloid, in a headline about the bowel cancer risks associated with eating bacon sandwiches. That scaremongering story was published almost a decade ago, but spurious claims about lifestyle choices and cancer – especially bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer – are still rife. The big difference? The alarmist claims are largely playing out on social media and are increasingly targeted at the young.
Why is this? In recent years it has become clear that rates of various cancers are rising in younger people. This is raising questions – and speculation – as to causes.
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Of particular note is colorectal cancer, which was virtually unheard of in younger people last century. Today, under-50s make up 10 per cent of new cases globally, and that number is forecast to more than double by 2030, as we report in “The alarming rise of colorectal cancer diagnoses in people under 50”.
The most intuitive explanation is a change in lifestyle in younger generations, as much of the social media frenzy purports. The strongest evidence so far points at obesity, type 2 diabetes and unhealthy diets. Conversely, there are signs that eating dairy products may be protective (see “Does milk and other dairy really reduce the risk of colorectal cancer?”).
Colorectal cancer was virtually unheard of in young people. It is now 10 per cent of new cases
Ultimately, it is unlikely to be down to a single food or lifestyle choice, but real answers are sorely needed. The issue is so pressing that last year, the Grand Cancer Challenge, a global initiative focused on the toughest problems in cancer research, launched a project investigating the causes of early-onset colorectal cancer. It will look at the usual suspects, including alcohol and processed foods, as well as possible previously unknown causes, such as microplastics and specific ingredients common in ultra-processed foods.
Frustratingly, it will take four years to see the results, while misinformation on social media can spread in minutes. But this sort of slow, careful science is the surest way to fight unfounded and potentially harmful claims. This type of messaging isn’t new, but in an era where the truth often feels under threat, such efforts are more important than ever.
