Bowel cancer rates have increased by 29 per cent among men but only by about six per cent among women in the past 35 years, a report by Cancer Research UK has claimed.
The figures also showed that the raise is particularly severe among people in their 60s and 70s, who account for more than 23,000 cases every year, the Telegraph reported.
Doctors though baffled by the increase of the cancer in this particular age group, and the disparity between men and women, said that risk factors for the disease include diet, weight, physical exercise, drinking and smoking.
The report was released to mark a new awareness and fundraising campaign in the name of English footie ace Bobby Moore, the World Cup winning captain who died from the disease in 1993, aged 51.
The report further showed that bowel cancer cases have increased from 45 per 100,000 men in 1975-77 to 58 cases in 2008-10, equalling to a rise of almost 33 percent.
In contrast, the charity said that the rates among women were risen from 35 cases per 100,000 to 37 cases over the same period.
Prof Matthew Seymour, director of the National Cancer Research Network, said they know that the bowel cancer risk increases as people age and, since everyone is living longer, it is no surprise to see that the number of people getting afflicted with the disease is on the rise.
He said but when they looked at these figures and took people’s age into account, they still see that the bowel cancer risk has gone up in men in the last 35 years.
