A fit and healthy 39-year-old mother from Melbourne, Australia, has received a devastating diagnosis of bowel cancer.
Danni Duncan, a fitness coach, was shocked to learn she had bowel cancer that has started spreading to nearby organs despite her extremely healthy lifestyle.
Danni shared on her Instagram that she considers herself one of the healthiest people she knows.
She explained that for the last four years, she has consumed 80-90% whole foods, uses non-toxic products at home, drinks little alcohol, exercises daily, and follows a high-fibre diet.
With no family history of bowel cancer, Danni was floored by the diagnosis after a colonoscopy last month.
Her surgeon informed her that environmental factors may be behind the rise in bowel cancer cases among young people like her.
He highlighted chemicals in foods, carcinogens from red meat, burnt or barbecued food, bacon, and ham as possible triggers.
These are exposures that many people faced during the 1990s, but the long-term effects have only become apparent now.
Additionally, the surgeon mentioned exposure to cleaning products in childhood as another possible environmental factor contributing to cancer risk.
Danni has urged parents to be cautious about what they feed their children, especially avoiding ultra-processed foods.
She warned against giving kids processed foods filled with harmful additives, stressing that the consequences may not show up immediately but could be devastating later in life.
Danni admitted she had very few symptoms initially, with persistent fatigue being the first sign that something was wrong.
Further tests showed internal blood loss caused by the tumour growing in her bowel.
She has undergone surgery to remove the cancer, parts of her intestines, and her entire appendix.
Pathology tests confirmed that her cancer was at stage 2.
This means the cancer has started to spread outside the bowel lining and is nearing nearby organs, but it has not yet invaded the lymph nodes.
Bowel cancer symptoms can include blood in stool, changes in bowel habits, or a bowel obstruction caused by a lump.
Some patients also experience weight loss due to these symptoms.
Recently, Danni informed her followers that doctors saw signs the cancer was growing toward her lymph nodes, so she will require further treatment.
She is not alone, as experts have noticed a worrying increase in bowel cancer among young, healthy adults worldwide.
A global study found rising rates of bowel cancer in under-50s in 27 out of 50 countries.
England reports an average 3.6% annual increase in young adults diagnosed with bowel cancer, one of the highest in the world.
While obesity is linked to bowel cancer, many new cases, like Danni’s, occur in people who are fit and healthy.
Experts believe environmental exposures unique to younger generations may explain this trend.
No definitive cause has been identified, but several theories are being investigated.
One theory points to ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which contain preservatives, emulsifiers, and artificial colourings.
Other possible factors include microplastics, pollution, and exposure to E.coli in food.
Research linking UPFs to cancer remains inconclusive partly because UPFs are classified by processing level rather than nutritional content.
For example, both a highly processed junk food meal and a supermarket loaf of brown bread are classified as UPFs despite their very different health effects.
This classification makes it difficult to isolate which foods or ingredients may increase cancer risk.
Cancer Research UK describes the current evidence connecting UPFs to cancer as weak and calls for more research.
Danni’s story serves as a powerful reminder that even people who live healthily may still face risks from environmental and dietary factors beyond their control.
It also highlights the importance of ongoing awareness and research into the causes of bowel cancer in younger adults.