The World Cancer Research Fund's analysis of NHS England Cancer Registration Statistics also revealed rises in several other early-onset cancers.

Colorectal (bowel) cancer cases among adults under 50 more than doubled between 2001 and 2023, from 1,289 to 2,989 cases. Similar increases for kidney cancer (510 to 1,065 cases) and uterine cancer (335 to 698 cases) among women were also observed.

The rate of new cases of prostate cancer in people under 50 each year increased from 1 in every 100,000 people in 2001 to nearly 4 in every 100,000 in 2023.

World Cancer Research Fund, along with researchers around the world, is investigating a range of possible factors, including changing population trends in diet, physical activity, body weight, alcohol consumption, smoking, environmental exposures (such as pollutants, chemicals, plastics, water and air pollution) and patterns of diagnosis.

World Cancer Research Fund executive director of research and policy, Dr Giota Mitrou, says: ‘These figures should make us pause and think because this current trajectory is concerning. Behind every figure is a person facing cancer earlier than they, their family and often their doctor would expect.'

Dr Asiya Maula, private GP at The Health Suite, said: ‘Bowel cancer is still far more common in older adults, but the rise we are seeing in younger people is an important reminder that age should not automatically be used as a reason to dismiss symptoms.'