'No one is too young to get cancer': Former Suffolk surgeon's warning as diagnoses rise among under-50s
She's urging younger people not to dismiss unusual symptoms after new figures revealed rising rates of several cancers among adults under 50.
Dr Liz O'Riordan, who has experienced cancer as both a surgeon and a patient, says younger adults need to recognise potential warning signs and feel confident returning to their GP if symptoms persist.
Her warning follows analysis by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), which found that rising cancer diagnoses among younger people in England are not confined to bowel cancer.
The charity examined NHS data from 2001 and 2023 and identified increases in the rates of prostate, bowel, kidney, womb, liver, pancreatic and breast cancers among people under 50.
While most cancers are still diagnosed in older adults, WCRF described the trend as "concerning".
Speaking exclusively to Greatest Hits Radio Suffolk, Dr O'Riordan said the findings were worrying, but stressed that cancer remains relatively uncommon among younger people.
"The figures are concerning when we see them," she said.
"When I was going through training in the 90s, cancer happened to people who were old, 60s, 70s, 80s, but now the average age of people being diagnosed is getting into the 40s, the 30s, and I've looked after people in their 20s who have had bowel cancer."
She added: "Whilst the numbers are rising, it is still relatively uncommon. It is still predominantly a disease of the elderly, but it does mean that young people need to be aware of the signs and symptoms."
'No one is too young to get cancer'
Dr O'Riordan warned that diagnosing cancer in younger adults can be particularly challenging because the disease is less common in those age groups.
She explained that doctors generally consider the most likely causes of a symptom first, which means cancer may not initially be suspected in a younger patient.
Most breast lumps in women in their 20s and 30s are harmless, she said, but she believes it is important that both patients and clinicians remain alert to the possibility of something more serious.
"And if you're a doctor or a nurse listening, no one is too young to get cancer," she said.
Dr O'Riordan encouraged people to explain their concerns clearly when seeking medical advice, particularly if they are worried a symptom could be cancer.
"I think when you go to see your doctor, you have to ask them, I have a lump, I have a symptom, I am worried it could be cancer," she said.
She also highlighted Jess's Rule, an NHS initiative encouraging GPs to reconsider a diagnosis when someone has returned repeatedly with the same or worsening symptoms without an explanation.
Dr O'Riordan said patients whose symptoms continue should feel able to seek another assessment or ask whether further investigation is appropriate.
Her message is not that every unusual symptom indicates cancer, but that persistent or unexplained changes should not be ignored simply because someone is young.
Cancer rates rising across several types
WCRF's analysis compared the number of new cancer diagnoses and rates per 100,000 people under 50 in England in 2001 and 2023.
Among its findings:
- Bowel cancer: Diagnoses increased from 1,289 to 2,989, with rates rising from 3.9 to 8.4 per 100,000 people under 50.
- Prostate cancer: Cases increased from 158 to 640, with rates among men under 50 rising from one to 3.6 per 100,000.
- Kidney cancer: Diagnoses rose from 510 to 1,065, with rates doubling from 1.5 to three per 100,000.
- Womb cancer: Cases increased from 335 to 698, with rates among women under 50 rising from 1.8 to 3.9 per 100,000.
- Liver cancer: Diagnoses rose from 160 to 278, with rates increasing from 0.5 to 0.8 per 100,000.
- Pancreatic cancer: Cases increased from 255 to 346, with rates rising from 0.8 to one per 100,000.
- Breast cancer: Diagnoses among women under 50 rose from 6,886 to 8,507, with rates increasing from 42 to 47.5 per 100,000.
The figures relate to England as a whole. They also show that the scale of the increase varies considerably between cancer types.
'I remember going to the toilets to cry'
Dr O'Riordan said treating younger cancer patients could be particularly distressing because a diagnosis often affects far more than their immediate physical health.
She described seeing patients facing the possibility of infertility, early menopause, financial difficulties and the challenge of balancing treatment with employment, relationships or caring for young children.
"It's really hard. I mean, I was 40 when I was diagnosed and I started seeing women in their 30s and their 20s and cancer impacts them differently because suddenly they may be made infertile," she said.
She also recalled the emotional impact of seeing cancer return in a young patient.
"I remember going to the toilets to cry when you see a young girl whose cancer has come back because it shouldn't happen and it's not fair."
Dr O'Riordan said younger patients may also have to navigate conversations about their diagnosis while dating, starting relationships or raising families.
Her comments underline the wider consequences of cancer for people who may be at the beginning of their careers or planning their futures.
What is causing the increase?
Although the figures show rising rates of several cancers, the reasons behind the changes are not fully understood.
Dr O'Riordan said established cancer risk factors include alcohol consumption, excess body weight and physical inactivity.
She also highlighted the importance of diet, including fibre intake and consumption of red and processed meat, particularly in relation to bowel cancer.
However, she cautioned against assuming that these factors alone explain the increases among younger adults.
"We don't know why it's happening," she said.
Researchers are also investigating whether changes in the gut microbiome and environmental exposures could play a role.
Dr O'Riordan said there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude that substances such as plastics in food or chemicals in cosmetic products are responsible for the increases.
"We are looking to see if it may be a possible link, but at the moment we can't put our finger on it and that's what's really worrying."
She was also asked whether increased testing and earlier detection might account for some of the rise.
Dr O'Riordan acknowledged that introducing screening can initially increase the number of cancers diagnosed, because the tests identify disease before symptoms develop.
However, she argued that the increases among younger adults could not simply be explained by routine screening programmes, which generally focus on older age groups.
Should cancer screening start earlier?
Despite the rising rates, Dr O'Riordan said lowering the age of routine cancer screening is not a straightforward solution.
Screening involves testing people who have no symptoms, and programmes must weigh the potential benefits against false positives, unnecessary investigations and other possible harms.
Cancer remains less common in younger adults, meaning population-wide screening may identify relatively few cases.
Dr O'Riordan also explained that mammograms can be less effective in younger women because their breast tissue is often denser, making abnormalities harder to identify.
She stressed that people with symptoms should seek medical assessment rather than wait until they become eligible for routine screening.
'I was a breast surgeon. I never checked my breasts'
Reflecting on her own diagnosis, Dr O'Riordan admitted that even her medical training had not made her immune to assuming cancer would never happen to her.
"I'll be honest, I was a breast surgeon. I never checked my breasts because I thought it's never going to happen to me," she said.
"And I got out the shower and I saw a lump in my cleavage."
She encouraged people to become familiar with what is normal for their bodies, including checking for changes in their breasts or chest, testicles, skin and other areas.
Rather than constantly looking for signs of illness, she suggested making a regular habit of noticing changes and seeking advice about anything unusual or persistent.
Dr O'Riordan also warned that alarming stories on social media can create an exaggerated perception of individual risk, particularly when people repeatedly encounter accounts of younger patients with cancer.
She said it was important to balance awareness with the understanding that most younger people will not develop the disease.
When should you see a GP?
The NHS is urging people not to delay seeking advice because they believe they are too young to have cancer.
Potential warning signs can include an unexplained lump, unusual bleeding or weight loss without an obvious cause.
These symptoms can have many explanations other than cancer, but the NHS advises people to get unusual or persistent changes checked.
Dr O'Riordan said patients should feel able to return to their GP if symptoms continue, change or remain unexplained, even after an initial assessment.
She also encouraged people to focus on established ways of reducing cancer risk, including drinking less alcohol, not smoking, being physically active, maintaining a healthy diet and protecting their skin from excessive sun exposure.
While not all cancers can be prevented, she said there are steps people can take to reduce their risk.
For younger adults worried by the latest figures, her message was one of awareness rather than alarm: cancer remains relatively uncommon before 50, but age alone should never be a reason to ignore a concerning symptom