Facts and figures

Bowel cancer facts

• Bowel cancer is the UK's second biggest cancer killer – claiming a life every half an hour
• Over 41,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year
• Over 110 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every day, that is someone every 15 minutes
• Every 30 minutes someone dies from bowel cancer in the UK - over 16,000 each year
• If diagnosed early, over 90% of bowel cancer cases can be treated successfully
• Around one in 17 people will get bowel cancer
• It affects men and women almost equally
• Most bowel cancer cases are in the over 50s, however the number of cases of bowel cancer in younger people is increasing rapidly, particularly in the under-30s which has increased by 120% in the last decade. 

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of bowel cancer vary but the most common symptoms are:

• A persistent change in bowel habit, especially going more often or looser stools
• Bleeding from the bottom without any obvious reason
• Abdominal pain, especially if severe
• A lump in your tummy
• Unexplained weight loss or tiredness

Most of these symptoms will not be cancer. Anyone experiencing one or more of these symptoms for four weeks or more should go and see their GP.

Risk factors

There is no known cause for bowel cancer however your diet, lifestyle and family history can all affect your chances of developing bowel cancer.

The following factors are known to increase your risk of developing bowel cancer:

• High intake of saturated fats, red or processed meat
• Inactivity and being overweight
• Drinking over 4 units of alcohol per day
• If you have an immediate relative with bowel cancer
• If you have diabetes, ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease

Reducing your risk

There are a number of ways you can reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer:

• Eat a healthy diet. This means eating lots of fruit, vegetables, wholegrain foods and fish, and less fat, red and processed meat
• Take regular exercise and try to maintain a healthy weight
• Stop smoking
• Moderate your alcohol intake
• Know your body and how it usually functions so that you recognise changes in your bowel habits.

For facts and figures specific to your region or the latest research on bowel cancer contact Kate Philipson in the press office on 020 8973 0008.