Worldwide increase in colorectal cancer

There has been an increase around the world in incidences of colorectal cancer, experts have revealed.

A new study led by the American Cancer Society found that colorectal incidence rates for both males and females have gone up in 27 of 51 countries studied worldwide between 1983 and 2002.

The spread of the disease has been seen in both males and females, with countries in Asia and South America witnessing the largest increase in cases.

In the latest issue of the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, researchers suggested that increasing westernisation and urbanisation may be contributing to this trend.

Also, a failure to detect colorectal cancer early on and improve prevention measures has also played a part in the rise of the disease.

In an editorial, Asad Umar and Peter Greenwald of the Division of Cancer Prevention of the National Cancer Institute, said that the results of the research are "alarming".

"This increase points toward a failed early detection and prevention strategy as well as failure to address lifestyle and dietary challenges of urbanisation that affect most of the globe," they added.

The US was the only country to reduce the number of colorectal cancer cases.

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