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I am running for beating bowel cancer charity and this is such a common cancer. Please sponsor me whatever you can! Some information below

How common is bowel cancer?

In England, bowel cancer is the second most common type of cancer. In 2008, there were 39,991 new cases of bowel cancer registered in the UK:

• 17,894 cases were diagnosed in women, making it the second most common cancer in women after breast cancer
• 22,097 cases were diagnosed in men, making it the third most common cancer after prostate and lung cancer

Approximately 80% of bowel cancer cases develop in people who are 60 or over. Two-thirds of bowel cancers develop in the colon, with the remaining third developing in the rectum.

In England, an estimated 16,000 people die from bowel cancer each year.

Factors that increase your risk of getting bowel cancer include:

• Age: around 80% of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are over 60.
• Diet: a diet high in fibre and low in saturated fat could reduce your bowel cancer risk. A diet high in red or processed meats can increase your risk.
• Healthy weight: leaner people are less likely to develop bowel cancer than obese people.
• Exercise: being inactive increases the risk of getting bowel cancer.
• Alcohol and smoking: high alcohol intake and smoking may increase your chances of getting bowel cancer.
• Family history and inherited conditions: having a close relative with bowel cancer puts you at much greater risk of developing the disease.
• Related conditions: having certain bowel conditions can put you more at risk of getting bowel cancer.

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