Am I at risk?
The exact cause of bowel cancer is unknown. However, research has shown several factors may make you more likely to develop it.
Your risk of developing bowel (colon and rectal) cancer depends on many things including age, genetics and lifestyle factors.
It is important to note that having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean that you will definitely get bowel cancer.
Many studies have shown that eating lots of red and processed meat increases the risk of bowel cancer.
Cancer symptoms: The main warning signs of cancer (Image: Getty Images)
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According to Cancer Research UK, it is estimated that around 13 out of 100 bowel cancer cases (around 13 percent) in the UK are linked to eating these meats.
BOWEL cancer symptoms can be subtle and do not necessarily make you feel ill so it can be hard to attach the dots. A change in your normal bowel habit can spell bowel cancer.