The rise in bowel cancer cases continues to grab attention, and the recent death of James Van Der Beek has brought the severity of this disease back into the spotlight.

Until recently, the reasons behind this surge were largely unclear. Now, research is pointing to a surprising suspect.

Last week brought the heartbreaking news that actor James Van Der Beek had passed away. The Dawson’s Creek star died at just 48, with his family saying he “met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”

In response, a GoFundMe set up to support his wife, Kimberly, and their six children has already raised more than $2.6 million.

Famous friends, including Katie Holmes and Alfonso Ribeiro, have paid heartfelt tributes to the actor, who discovered he had bowel cancer following a colonoscopy in 2023.

Despite being in “amazing shape” and maintaining a “healthy” lifestyle, Van Der Beek noticed a “change in bowel habits” and initially thought it might be related to his diet.

”I tried to eat healthy as much as I could, as far as I knew at the time. Though I’ve since learned a lot about what actually eating healthy is,” he told People in 2024.

For the Dawson’s Creek star, he had been open about his own symptoms.

“It was just a change in bowel habits,” he shared in this week’s cover story. “I thought, I probably need to change my diet a little bit. Maybe I need to stop coffee. Maybe I need to not put cream in the coffee. And then I finally took that out of my diet, and it didn’t improve, and I thought, all right, I better go get this checked out.”

Other warning signs of bowel cancer can include blood in your stools, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, extreme fatigue, and unusual lumps in the stomach or rectum. Experts urge anyone experiencing these symptoms to consult their GP immediately.

When Van Der Beek revealed that he had stage three colorectal cancer, the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes but not to distant parts of the body.

Surprising culprit

Unfortunately, James Van Der Beek did not survive his illness, and his passing has sparked renewed discussion about why bowel cancer is increasing among young people.

Some researchers argue that if this trend continues, the disease could become the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among young adults worldwide by 2030.

So, what’s driving this rise? The answer isn’t simple, but research is pointing to a surprising culprit: gut bacteria.

A new study suggests that exposure during childhood or adolescence to a toxin produced by certain strains of E. coli, whose growth is fueled by highly processed diets, can set the stage for aggressive colon cancer decades later.

An international team examined the full DNA sequences of 981 colorectal tumors from patients across 11 countries. They discovered striking geographic patterns in the mutations that drive cancer.

Two mutation signatures in particular, SBS88 and ID18, stood out for their link to colibactin, a DNA-damaging toxin produced by certain strains of E. coli. These bacterial “fingerprints” were 3.3 times more common in patients diagnosed before the age of 40 than in those over 70.

Importantly, these mutations occur early in tumor development, suggesting that the damage may happen years, even decades, before cancer is officially detected.

This finding may help explain why people under 50 are at the center of one of the fastest-growing cancer epidemics of our time.

Important to remember one thing

But even with these alarming numbers, it’s important to remember: early detection is crucial. Getting treatment promptly significantly improves survival rates.

However, many people delay seeing a doctor due to “embarrassment” or not wanting to “make a fuss,” explains Dr. Jamie Murphy, consultant colorectal surgeon.

“Nine out of ten cancers can be successfully treated if they are caught in the early stages before they have spread,” he notes. “Rapid detection of bowel cancer really does save lives.”

Dr. Murphy points out that certain lifestyle factors can increase a person’s risk of developing bowel cancer.

“One of the most likely reasons is the rising number of people living with obesity,” he says. “It can lead to chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and changes in gut bacteria, all of which can contribute to the development of cancer.”

Diet also plays a role.

“Diets high in processed foods, red meat, and low in fibre are also suspected to play a role,” Dr. Murphy says, while a sedentary lifestyle can further increase risk. On the flip side, “regular exercise is known to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by promoting healthy digestion and reducing inflammation… so get moving, lads.”

Environmental factors may also be contributing.

“Exposure to environmental toxins and pollutants… can disrupt hormonal balance and damage cellular DNA, potentially leading to cancer development,” Dr. Murphy explains. “Increased exposure to these toxins through food, water, and air could be a significant risk factor.”

James Van Der Beek’s untimely passing is a heartbreaking reminder of just how ruthless bowel cancer can be. While his loss is deeply tragic, we can hope that his story shines a light on this rising threat, inspiring awareness, early detection, and continued research.

May his legacy help drive progress in understanding why this disease is increasing among younger adults — and ultimately save lives before it’s too late.