

smoking – smoking may increase your chances of getting bowel cancer.alcohol – drinking alcohol might increase your risk of getting bowel cancer.

exercise – being inactive increases your risk of getting bowel cancer.weight – bowel cancer is more common in overweight or obese people.diet – a diet high in red or processed meats and low in fibre can increase your risk.age – almost 9 in 10 people with bowel cancer are aged 60 or over.The exact cause of bowel cancer is not known, but there are a number of things that can increase your risk, including: Read about diagnosing bowel cancer Causes of bowel cancer Make sure you see a GP if your symptoms persist or keep coming back after stopping treatment, regardless of their severity or your age. arrange for you to have a simple test in hospital to make sure there's no serious cause of your symptoms.arrange for a simple blood test to check for iron deficiency anaemia – this can show whether there's any bleeding from your bowel that you have not been aware of.examine your tummy and bottom to make sure you have no lumps.See a GP If you have any of the symptoms of bowel cancer for 3 weeks or more. Read about the symptoms of bowel cancer When to get medical advice These symptoms should be taken more seriously as you get older and when they persist despite simple treatments. a change in bowel habit to going less often, with harder poo, is not usually caused by any serious condition – it may be worth trying laxatives before seeing a GP.a change in bowel habit or abdominal pain is usually caused by something you've eaten.blood in the poo when associated with pain or soreness is more often caused by piles (haemorrhoids).Other health problems can cause similar symptoms. Most people with these symptoms do not have bowel cancer.

