Bowel cancer – it’s prevalent and it’s a real pain in the ass.

One in 14 men and one in 18 women in NSW will be diagnosed with bowel cancer in their lifetime.

Since it’s so common, let’s ask: “Do you know your risk of bowel cancer?”

Some LGBTQ+ people may not be fully aware of their risk – turns out, there’s more we need to know.

In our survey on bowel cancer screening among LGBTQ people in NSW we found something alarming:

Only a quarter of respondents believed they are at risk of bowel cancer!

What about the rest of our respondents, and what are we missing when it comes to bowel cancer risk?

Surely the biggest risk factors are smoking and drinking alcohol, right?

It’s age.

Age is my biggest risk factor of bowel cancer?

Your risk of bowel cancer increases with age.

Yup – regardless of whether you exercise, have a healthy diet, or smoke or drink.

After age 45, your risk of bowel cancer is significantly higher.

Why?

When you age, your body can experience more genetic mutations over time that could lead to cancerous growths in the bowel.

If you smoke, drink, eat a lot of red and processed meats (like bacon, ham, and salami) or have a sedentary lifestyle, you may be at even higher risk.

 

We all get older – and that means a bit more bowel cancer risk

What a bummer, none of us are exempt from bowel cancer risk.

However, awareness of a problem is the best way to prevent a problem.

The good news? We can take action.

Bowel cancer is one of the most preventable cancers in Australia, and it’s as simple as reducing your risk and screening!

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program offers free bowel tests to all Australians aged 45-74.

If you’re aged 50-74 years, you’ll be sent a kit in the mail every 2 years.

If you are aged 45 to 49, you can request a free bowel cancer screening kit.

You can also talk to your doctor about your bowel cancer risk and screening. They can request a kit for you and help explain the process.

Family history of bowel cancer

Besides age, there are a few risk factors you can’t change. Family history of bowel cancer, genetics, and experiencing inflammatory diseases also play a part in your risk of bowel cancer.

‘Family history’ means having family members who have been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Talk to your doctor about your risk of getting bowel cancer and what testing is right if:

• You have one close family member (a parent, brother, or sister) who developed bowel cancer under the age of 60,
• Or more than one close family member who had bowel cancer at any age.

If your family has a history of bowel cancer, you might be more aware of your risk because of your experience with the disease. Regardless of your family history of bowel cancer, it’s important to know your risk.

Okay so, there’s a few things you can’t change, but there’s a bunch of factors you can manage!

 

How can I reduce my risk of bowel cancer?

While it’s true that age is the biggest risk factor for bowel cancer, there are still several things within your control that you can do to reduce your risk in the long term.

Statistically, our LGBTQ+ communities have higher rates of drinking and smoking[1]. Throw in lower cancer screening rates, and these seemingly small lifestyle factors can lead to bigger problems!

Check out some of the things you can do to stay healthy and reduce your risk of bowel cancer.

 

Bowel cancer is more common in Australia than you may think. But it doesn’t have to be this way!

We have the power to prevent cancer when we’re aware of our risks and screening options.

 

For more information on bowel cancer prevention, head to the Bowel Cancer screening section of our site. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates, and if you have any other questions please reach out: canwe@acon.org.au

For more resources, please visit:

Bowel cancer screening | Cancer Institute NSW

Free Bowel Cancer Screening Test Kit – Cancer Institute NSW