Bowel cancer on the rise among young people in Europe

Rate among people aged 20-39 rose 7.4% a year between 2008 and 2016, researchers say

Bowel cancer is on the increase among young people in Europe, researchers have discovered, with expanding waistlines thought to play a role in the rise.

The condition is most common in the elderly, but some research suggests it is more aggressive in young people. According to recent figures, it is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK, with about 16,000 deaths a year. More than half of bowel cancer cases are thought to be preventable.