Surgeon explains to 'fit and healthy' woman, 39, diagnosed with bowel cancer why it's happening to people like her

Bowel cancer rates are rising across the world, in what experts have described as a 'growing global phenomenon' which is hitting young adults the hardest.

According to Cancer Research, the UK is experiencing 'some of the steepest increases' in the disease, but experts say further research is needed to understand why this is happening.

However, some health professionals have made their own deductions about this worrying trend - including Danni Duncan's surgeon, who has been helping her deal with her bowel cancer diagnosis.

The health and fitness coach, 39, underwent a procedure ten days ago to remove the tumour - along with her appendix and part of her intestine - just weeks after receiving the devastating news.

Danni told her more than 52,000 Instagram followers that she was informed she had bowel cancer after undergoing a colonoscopy and a range of other tests while carrying out a health MOT ahead of her 40th birthday.

The mum, from Melbourne, explained that she had been experiencing episodes of dizziness and exhaustion, as well as 'really bad bloating', but she initially brushed her concerns off.

Following the colonoscopy, Danni's doctor told her there was a 2cm malignant tumour at the top of her bowel - which inevitably knocked her for six.

What made the news all the more shocking to the mum is that she puts her all into her health while there is also no history of the disease in her family.

"I am the freaking healthiest person I know, I do more things for my health than anyone I know," Danni said in a social media post. "It's not genetic, it's obviously not lifestyle. The last four years I have eaten 80-90 per cent whole foods, we use non toxic products at home, I don't drink much alcohol, exercise every day and eat a high fibre diet."

Her surgeon then suggested that there might be a possible explanation for why she has developed bowel cancer despite centring her life around protecting her health.

Danni explained: "Bowel cancer takes 15 to 20 years to grow, from when it's first cell. Well, I was born in 1985. When I was in the surgeon's appointment on Monday, he said something so interesting.

"He said, 'This is what's happened - chemicals in your foods, carcinogens through red meat, burnt, barbecued, bacon, ham - they are environmental factors which we got exposed to in the 90s and we didn't know the long-term effects until now'."

After the doctor shared his hypothesis with her, Danni decided to share it with her thousands of followers, urging people to reassess what they put into their bodies.

"It does matter what you feed your kids," the mum continued. "Stop feeding your kids things that are not good for them, that are processed, that are full of s***.

"You might think they're fine, they're fine now - but what are you really doing to your kids? What detriment are you doing to your kids later on, without even realising it?"

According to Macmillan, factors such as diet, weight, alcohol consumption and age can increase the risk of bowel cancer; however, the exact cause is still unknown.

In the wake of her recent surgery, Danni said she received the news that her cancer was stage 2, meaning that it 'has spread into the outer wall of the bowel or into tissue or organs next to the bowel', Cancer Research explains.

Thankfully, though, it has not spread to the lymph nodes or distant parts of the body.

But in a further update shared earlier this week, Danni explained: "Although it's still stage 2, it has gone into my lymph channel. It's high-risk stage 2. So, I still have to talk to an oncologist.

"Basically, the lymph channel means that it's literally on its way to my lymph nodes. So that's not ideal."

Treatment for stage 2 bowel cancer usually involves surgery and chemotherapy, which can shrink the tumour and lower the chance of it coming back.

Around 85 per cent of people with this form of the disease survive for five years or more following the diagnosis.