Fresh calls for the bowel cancer screening age to be lowered further

An Otago University study shows rates of early onset colorectal cancer have risen by 26 percent per decade over the last 20 years.

Rates rose by 36 percent in Maori aged below 50 years.

Lead author Oliver Waddell says the screening age needs to be lowered to at least 45-years-old from the current age of 60.

He says an earlier diagnosis would save the health system money from reduced treatment costs.

The USA and Australia have recently decided to screen from age 45.