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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