The most common risk factors are things you can’t change (like growing older). That’s why it’s important to be take part in bowel screening and talk about any symptoms with your doctor.

Risk factors for bowel cancer

Bowel cancer is more common in those over the age of 60 years, and is more common in men than in women.

People who are at increased risk

Other things that can increase your risk of bowel cancer include:

• strong family history of bowel cancer (like if a close family member was diagnosed before 55 years of age, or if two or more close family members of the same side of the family have had bowel cancer)
• known or suspected genetic bowel cancer syndrome
• extensive inflammatory bowel disease, like ulcerative colitis, for more than 10 years.

Talk to your doctor about your personal risk of bowel cancer. You should still do the bowel screening test, even if one of these risk factors applies to you.

Reducing your risk

You can reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer by:

• having a healthy diet high in fruit, vegetables and fibre
• regular exercise
• being smoke-free.

Finding cancer early

You are more likely to survive bowel cancer if it is found early.

Regular bowel screening provides an opportunity to find and treat bowel cancer at an early stage – before you develop symptoms. That’s why we recommend you take the bowel screening test.