Bowel cancer rates among British men have soared by more than a quarter in the last 35 years due to worsening diets, a new study has shown.
While as the rates of bowel cancer have increased by 29 per cent among men, women only saw an increase of just six per cent, a report released by Cancer Research UK claims.
The increase is particularly severe among people in their 60s and 70s, who now account for more than 23,000 cases a year, 'The Telegraph' reported.
Experts believe the risk factors for the disease include diet, weight, physical exercise, drinking and smoking.
The ageing population in UK may also be resulting in a general increase in cases of various cancer types, although this does not explain the disparity between the sexes, they added.
The report shows that cases of bowel cancer have increased from 45 per 100,000 men in 1975-77 to 58 cases in 2008-10, equal to an overall rise of almost a third.
However, the charity said rates among women have only risen from 35 cases per 100,000 to 37 cases over the same period.
It said the survival rates have also improved over time with half of all patients now surviving for a decade after diagnosis, but it still causes the second most cancer deaths in Britain after lung cancer.
"We know the risk of bowel cancer increases as we get older and, since we're all living longer, it's no surprise to see that the number of people getting the disease is rising," Prof Matthew Seymour, director of the National Cancer Research Network, said.
