“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
  • Genetics and family history
  • Medical conditions such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Lynch syndrome, 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 (Colon) Cancer: What Are the Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer? the (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention elaborate on:

Bowel Cancer

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

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:

“Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States”.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

In women, is colorectal cancer a leading cause of cancer-related deaths?

According to the ACS:

“In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women, and it’s the second most common cause of cancer deaths when numbers for men and women are combined. It’s expected to cause about 52,550 deaths during 2023”.11

Prevention

How can bowel cancer be prevented?

In Bowel Cancer: Preventing Bowel Cancer the World Cancer Research Fund UK elaborate on:

“There are 5 key steps you can take to reduce your risk. All of them are based on research from our Continuous Update Project (CUP).

  1. Eat well…
  2. Be a healthy weight…
  3. Be more active…
  4. Don’t drink alcohol
  5. Don’t smoke”.12

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 (Colon) Cancer: Basic Information About Colorectal Cancer the CDC elaborate on:

“If you are 45 years old or older, get screened now. 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:

Links

Where may I find Links related to Bowel Cancer?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Bowel Cancer: Preventing Bowel Cancer. This Information Was Last Updated September 2023. Cancer Council Australia https://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer/ Accessed: 12 September 2023
  2. Bowel Cancer: What Is Bowel Cancer? Last Reviewed: 30 November 2021. Cancer Research UK https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/about-bowel-cancer Accessed: 12 September 2023
  3. Colorectal Cancer: About Colorectal Cancer – What Is Colorectal Cancer? Last Revised: 29 June 2020. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/detailedguide/colorectal-cancer-what-is-colorectal-cancer Accessed: 12 September 2023
  4. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms:  C – Colon Cancer. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/expand/C Accessed: 12 September 2023
  5. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: R – Rectal Cancer. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/expand/R Accessed: 12 September 2023
  6. Bowel Cancer: What Is Bowel Cancer? Who Gets Bowel Cancer? Last Reviewed: 30 November 2021. Cancer Research UK https://about-cancer.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/about-bowel-cancer Accessed: 12 September 2023
  7. Colorectal (Colon) Cancer: What Are the Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer? Last Reviewed: 23 February 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/risk_factors.htm Accessed: 12 September 2023
  8. Colorectal Cancer: About Colorectal Cancer – Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer: How Common Is Colorectal Cancer? Last Revised: 13 January 2023. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html Accessed: 12 September 2023
  9. Bowel Cancer: What Is Bowel Cancer? How Common Is Bowel Cancer? Last Reviewed: 30 November 2021. Cancer Research UK https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/about-bowel-cancer Accessed: 12 September 2023
  10. Bowel Cancer: What Is Bowel Cancer? This Information Was Last Updated September 2023. Cancer Council Australia https://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer/ Accessed: 12 September 2023
  11. Colorectal Cancer: About Colorectal Cancer – Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer: Deaths From Colorectal Cancer. Last Revised: 13 January 2023. American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/detailedguide/colorectal-cancer-key-statistics Accessed: 12 September 2023
  12. Bowel Cancer: Preventing Bowel Cancer. World Cancer Research Fund UK https://www.wcrf-uk.org/cancer-types/bowel-cancer/preventing-bowel-cancer/ Accessed: 12 September 2023
  13. Bowel Cancer: Preventing Bowel Cancer. This Information Was Last Updated January 2023. Cancer Council Australia https://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer/ Accessed: 12 September 2023
  14. Colorectal (Colon) Cancer: Basic Information About Colorectal Cancer. Last Reviewed: 23 February 2023. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/index.htm Accessed: 12 September 2023
Topic Last Updated: 08 March 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 12 September 2023

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