BOWEL cancer is now the third most common cancer, NHS stats show.
It overtook lung cancer for the first time since records began in 1995.
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In England, there were 41,596 cases of it in 2021, and 39,635 lung patients.
Breast cancer is the most common type, followed by prostate tumours.
The health service says raised awareness, helped by campaigners such as late Sun writer Dame Deborah James, has increased bowel diagnosis.
But experts warn rates of it may also be rising because of our diets and lifestyles.
Bowel Research UK charity head Lynn Dunne said: “It is concerning that bowel cancer cases are now more prevalent than lung cancer.
“There are indications of a rise in the number of people under 60 being detected and treated for bowel cancer. This is possibly related to lifestyle issues such as poor diet and obesity and smoking are also known to play a role.”
NHS figures show that bowel cancer cases are rising faster than cancer overall, with a 10.4 per cent increase between 2019 and 2021. Total cancer cases increased by just one per cent.
Record numbers of people have been getting tested for bowel disease, in part because of high-profile cases including Dame Debs, who died aged just 40 in June last year.
The Sun writer campaigned for years after being diagnosed in 2016 and encouraged Brits to “check your poo”.
Following The Sun’s No Time 2 Lose campaign, NHS screening is being extended to younger age groups. Simple at-home sample tests will be rolled out to all 50 to 74-year-olds by 2025.
NHS England cancer Prof Peter Johnson said: “We are forever grateful to people like Deborah James, who campaigned tirelessly to raise the profile of bowel cancer and the importance of early detection, and whose efforts have undoubtedly saved lives.”