LOWDOWN ON THE RISKS

DIET

A diet high in fats, and red and processed meat is “specifically associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer,” according to a 2020 study published in the

International Journal of

Epidemiology. Consuming 76g per day leads to a 20 per cent higher chance of developing the disease, compared to those who eat 21g daily. Wholegrains, dietary fibre, fruit and vegetables have all been found to lower the risk factor.

ACTIVITY

Being very physically active can reduce your risk. Exercise moves food through the bowel faster, meaning anything harmful in food waste spends less time inside the body. Lower levels of body fat can reduce inflammation levels, too. Maintaining a healthy weight is also crucial for prevention – bowel cancer can occur more often in those who are overweight or obese, particularly among men.

VITAMINS

People with a Vitamin D deficiency are 31 per cent more likely to develop bowel cancer, according to research. Women with no cancer history who consume folate-rich supplements have been found to have a reduced risk of the disease.

GENETICS

First degree relatives (a parent, sibling or child) who have been diagnosed with bowel cancer can increase the risk of the disease; this rises if more than one relative has been diagnosed, or if the person in question was diagnosed under the age of 45. Inherited conditions associated with gene changes, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), is responsible for less than 1 per cent of all bowel cancers, but if left untreated, individuals will almost certainly develop the condition by 45. Those with FAP are recommended to have bowel surgery in their 20s, as a precaution.

VICES

An estimated 7 per cent of UK cases are linked to smoking, with the risk factor growing proportionally with the number of cigarettes smoked. Alcohol also raises the likelihood by around 6 per cent, either through cell damage, changes to hormones or changes to cells in the mouth and throat. Men should have no more than two drinks a day; or one for women.