Bowel Cancer

Bowel Cancer

“The risk of bowel cancer can be reduced by a healthy diet
with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, limiting
consumption of red meat, avoiding processed meats…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Bowel Cancer Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Bowel Cancer
  • Cancer of the Back Passage
  • Colon Cancer
  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Rectal Cancer/Cancer of the Rectum

Bowel Cancer

What is bowel cancer?

DotS the definition of bowel cancer may vary. The (United Kingdom) Cancer Research UK’s definition is:

“Bowel cancer is also called colorectal cancer. It affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum”.2

Colorectal Cancer

What is colorectal cancer?

DotS the definition of colorectal cancer may vary. In Colorectal Cancer: About Colorectal Cancer – What Is Colorectal Cancer? the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) definition is:

“Colorectal cancer starts in the colon or the rectum. These cancers can also be called colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where they start. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they have many features in common”.3

Colon Cancer

What is colon cancer?

DotS the definition of colon cancer may vary. The (United States) National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) definition is:

“Colon cancer
Cancer that forms in the tissues of the colon (the longest part of the large intestine). Most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas (cancers that begin in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids)”.4

Rectal Cancer

What is rectal cancer?

DotS the definition of rectal cancer may vary. The NCI’s definition is:

“Rectal cancer
Cancer that forms in the tissues of the rectum (the last several inches of the large intestine closest to the anus)”.5

Risk

What can the risk of developing bowel cancer depend on?

In Bowel Cancer: What Is Bowel Cancer? Who Gets Bowel Cancer? Cancer Research UK elaborate on:

“The risk of developing bowel cancer depends on many factors, including:

  • Age
  • Family history
  • Genetic conditions such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Lynch syndrome and other polyp syndromes
  • Long term (chronic) inflammatory bowel conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
  • Diet and lifestyle factors”.6

Age

What is the association between age and the risk of developing bowel cancer?

In Colorectal Cancer: Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors – Key Points the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention elaborate on:

“Your risk of getting colorectal cancer increases as you get older”.7

Bowel Cancer

Common or Not

How common is bowel cancer?

DotS, DotC, (Depending on the Country), DotY (Depending on the Year), or depending on excluding skin cancers or not; how common bowel cancer is may vary. In the United States according to the ACS:

“In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth leading cause in women, but it’s the second most common cause of cancer deaths when numbers for men and women are combined”.8

In the United Kingdom (UK) according to Cancer Research UK:

“It is the 4th most common cancer in the UK”.9

In Australia according to the Cancer Council Australia:

“Bowel cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, and it is estimated that one in 20 people will be diagnosed by the time they are 85”.10

Women

For women, what is the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer?

According to the ACS:

“Overall, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 24 for men and 1 in 26 for women. However, each person’s risk might be higher or lower than this, depending on their risk factors for colorectal cancer”.11

Prevention

How can bowel cancer be prevented?

In Bowel Cancer: Preventing Bowel Cancer – Reducing Your Risk the World Cancer Research Fund UK elaborate on:

“Here are 6 ways to reduce your bowel cancer risk, based on research from our Global Cancer Update Programme.

  1. Eat more fibre, including wholegrains…
  2. Limit processed and red meat…
  3. Keep active…
  4. Maintain a healthy weight…
  5. Reduce your alcohol intake…
  6. Don’t smoke”.12

In Bowel Cancer: Preventing Bowel Cancer the Cancer Council Australia explain:

“The risk of bowel cancer can be reduced by a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, limiting consumption of red meat, avoiding processed meats, not smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, being physically active, and maintaining a healthy body weight”.13

Health Care Provider

What if I think I am at risk for bowel cancer?

If you think you are at risk for bowel cancer, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. In Colorectal Cancer: Colorectal Cancer Basics – What It Is the CDC elaborate on:

“If you are 45 years old or older, talk to your doctor about screening. If you think you may be at increased risk for colorectal cancer, speak with your doctor about when to begin screening, which test is right for you, and how often to get tested”.14

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Bowel Cancer?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Bowel Cancer?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. A-Z of Medical Terms
  2. About Bowel Cancer
  3. Alcohol and Cancer
  4. Bowel Cancer
  5. Bowel Cancer
  6. Bowel Cancer
  7. Bowel Cancer
    Bowel Cancer
  8. Bowel Cancer Risk Could Be Reduced With An Extra Glass of Milk
  9. Bowel Cancer UK [United Kingdom]
  10. Bowel Polyps
  11. Can Colorectal Cancer Be Prevented? [+ Video Courtesy: Lisa Boardman, M.D/Gastroenterology/Mayo Clinic
  12. Can Colorectal Polyps and Cancer Be Found Early?
  13. Cancer
  14. Cancer
  15. Cancer Screening Tests for Women
  16. Colorectalcancer.org [Colorectal Cancer Alliance, United States]
  17. Colon Cancer
  18. Colorectal Cancer
  19. Colorectal Cancer
  20. Colorectal Cancer
  21. Colorectal Cancer
  22. Colorectal Cancer Information for Patients
  23. Colorectal Cancer Myths and Facts
  24. Colorectal Cancer Prevention (PDQ)–Patient Version
  25. Colorectal Cancer Screening (PDQ)–Patient Version
  26. Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests
  27. Colorectal Cancer Signs and Symptoms
  28. Colorectal Cancer Videos
  29. Colorectal Cancer: Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention
  30. Colorectal Cancer: Colorectal Cancer Basics
  31. Colorectal Cancer: Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors
  32. Colorectal Cancer: Reducing Risk for Colorectal Cancer
  33. Colorectal Cancer: Screening for Colorectal Cancer
  34. Colorectal Cancer: Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer
  35. Colorectal Cancer: Talking With Your Doctor About Colorectal Cancer
  36. Colorectal Cancer–Patient Version
  37. Do I Have Colorectal Cancer? Signs, Symptoms and Work-Up
  38. Eating Well
  39. Evidence for Our Recommendations
  40. Fightcolorectalcancer.org [Fight Colon Cancer, United States]
  41. Get Tested for Colorectal Cancer
  42. Glossary: Definitions & Phonetic Pronunciations
  43. Heredity Colorectal (Colon) Cancer
  44. Heredity Colorectal (Colon) Cancer: About Lynch Syndrome
  45. Heredity Colorectal (Colon) Cancer: Family Health History and Cancer
  46. Heredity Colorectal (Colon) Cancer: Genetic Testing for Lynch Syndrome
  47. How Long Does It Take Colon Cancer To Grow?
  48. Is Colon Cancer Hereditary?
  49. Lynch Syndrome [+ Video: What Is Lynch Syndrome?]
  50. Lynch Syndrome
  51. Lynch Syndrome
  52. Mayo Clinic Minute: Are Colon and Rectal Cancers Treated Differently? [+ Video]
  53. Mayo Clinic Minute: Who Should Be Screened for Colorectal Cancer? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  54. Mayo Clinic Q and A: So You’re Having A Colonoscopy: What To Expect
  55. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Treating Colon Cancer
  56. Mayo Clinic Q&A: Treating Colorectal Cancer With Surgery
  57. Meat In Your Diet
  58. Meat and Cancer
  59. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
  60. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Cancer: In-Depth
  61. National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month [March]
    Bowel Cancer
  62. OCCAM Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine [National Cancer Institute, United States]
  63. Our Cancer Prevention Recommendations
  64. Preventing Cancer
  65. Reducing Your Risk
  66. Screening and Prevention
  67. Small Bowel Cancer
  68. Symptoms of Bowel Cancer
  69. Symptoms of Bowel Cancer
  70. Stages, Types and Grades of Bowel Cancer
  71. The Bowel
  72. Video: Colonoscopy
  73. What Is Bowel Cancer? [+ Video]
  74. What Is Lynch Syndrome?
  75. What To Eat To Lower Your Risk of Colon Cancer
  76. You’re At Risk of Colorectal Cancer. Know the Symptoms. Get Screened.

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Bowel Cancer: Preventing Bowel Cancer. Last Updated: 12 February 2025. Cancer Council Australia https://cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer Accessed: 30 November 2025
  2. Bowel Cancer: What Is Bowel Cancer? Last Reviewed: 05 November 2024. Cancer Research UK https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/about-bowel-cancer Accessed: 30 November 2025
  3. Colorectal Cancer: About Colorectal Cancer – What Is Colorectal Cancer? Last Revised: 29 January 2024. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/detailedguide/colorectal-cancer-what-is-colorectal-cancer Accessed: 30 November 2025
  4. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms:  C – Colon Cancer. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/expand/C Accessed: 30 November 2025
  5. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: R – Rectal Cancer. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/expand/R Accessed: 30 November 2025
  6. Bowel Cancer: What Is Bowel Cancer? Who Gets Bowel Cancer? Last Reviewed: 05 November 2024. Cancer Research UK https://about-cancer.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/about-bowel-cancer Accessed: 30 November 2025
  7. Colorectal Cancer: Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors – Key Points. 17 October 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/colorectal-cancer/risk-factors/ Accessed: 30 November 2025
  8. Colorectal Cancer: About Colorectal Cancer – Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer: Deaths From Colorectal Cancer. Last Revised: 28 April 2025. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html Accessed: 30 November 2025
  9. Bowel Cancer: What Is Bowel Cancer? How Common Is Bowel Cancer? Last Reviewed: 05 November 2024. Cancer Research UK https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/about-bowel-cancer Accessed: 30 November 2025
  10. Bowel Cancer: What Is Bowel Cancer? Last Updated: 12 February 2025. Cancer Council Australia https://cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer Accessed: 30 November 2025
  11. Colorectal Cancer: About Colorectal Cancer – Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer: Lifetime Risk of Colorectal Cancer. Last Revised: 28 April 2025. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/detailedguide/colorectal-cancer-key-statistics Accessed: 30 November 2025
  12. Bowel Cancer: Preventing Bowel Cancer – Reducing Your Risk. World Cancer Research Fund UK https://www.wcrf-uk.org/cancer-types/bowel-cancer/preventing-bowel-cancer/ Accessed: 30 November 2025
  13. Bowel Cancer: Preventing Bowel Cancer. Last Updated: 12 February 2025. Cancer Council Australia https://cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer Accessed: 30 November 2025
  14. Colorectal Cancer: Colorectal Cancer Basics – What It Is. Last Reviewed: 12 June 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/colorectal-cancer/about/ Accessed: 30 November 2025
Topic Last Updated: 07 March 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 30 November 2025

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