"Uncovering the Root Causes of the Rising Colon Cancer Epidemic in Young People"

Scientists are launching a $25 million global probe into the surging rates of colon cancer among young people, with studies focusing on analyzing stool and cells from patients, as well as the link between diets and tumor formation. The rise in early-onset colon cancer is thought to be linked to obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and junk food consumption, but other theories such as fungal infections or antibiotics are being considered. The research aims to understand risk factors and improve prevention, as colon cancer cases have risen by 50 percent among adults under 50 in the US since 1999, and globally by 80 percent in three decades. The disease is set to become the biggest cancer killer among under 50s by 2030, and the new studies will be led by researchers at top universities in the US and UK.