Dr Frank Frizelle: Colorectal surgeon and co-author on the study showing rising rates of early onset colorectal cancer

There are more calls to further lower the bowel cancer screening age. 

An Otago University study shows rates of early onset colorectal cancer have risen by 26% each decade over the past 20 years. 

Rates for Māori aged under 50 years rose 36%. 

Professor Frank Frizelle told Kerre Woodham that the screening age needs to be lowered from the current age of 60 to at least 45. 

He said that a lot of the issue is that young people having bowel cancer is unexpected, so symptoms are often ignored. 

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