Risk Factors
Bowel cancer tends to develop from a polyp, which is a small fleshy outgrowth from the lining of the large intestine. Bowel polyps are benign, non cancerous and really common, with about 25% of people over the age of 50 having one. However over about 5-15 years, the benign polyp can turn cancerous. Therefore if you are found to have a polyp on testing, even if it is thought to be benign, it will be removed.
The following increase risk of bowel cancer:
◆ Age – the majority of those with colorectal cancer are over
60 years old
◆ Family history – having close relatives who have had bowel cancer
◆ Inflammatory bowel disease – having ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
◆ Obesity
◆ There are rarer inherited diseases such as familial adenomatous polyposis which causes many polyps to develop
◆ Smoking and drinking
lots of alcohol
◆ Dietary factors – eating a lot of processed meat such as sausages, bacon, ham and salamis
◆ Past histor y of colorectal cancer, or breast, ovarian or womb (endometrial) cancer
Eating a high fibre diet with lots of fruit and vegetables can decrease your risk of developing bowel cancer