Gone are the days when cancer struck the old, and spared the young.

Bowel cancer cases have doubled in people under 55 over the past 20 years as per the American Cancer Society, a disturbing trend that point towards the deadly cancer's growing threat, reports The Times of India.

Studies suggest up to 90% of colorectal cancers are due to environmental and lifestyle factors, which makes them highly preventable.

Bowel cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers globally, responsible for over 1.9 million new cases and nearly 904,000 deaths in 2022.

Not just bowel cancer, other types of cancers including breast, bowel, lungs, ovaries, and pancreas are also on rise among youth.

Recent research published in The Lancet Oncology has brought renewed attention to the alarming surge in colorectal cancer among younger adults, particularly in high-income Western countries, where trends for older adults have stabilised or even decreased.