Bowel cancer risk rises sharply and progressively from age 50
 
Non Modifiable Bowel Cancer Australia
 
If you are aged 50 years and over 'doing nothing is not an option' when it comes to bowel cancer risk.
 
Bowel cancer is the second most common type of newly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with the majority of people diagnosed aged 50 years and older.
 
But the good news is that bowel can be successfully treated in 90% of cases, if detected early.
 
So being aware of bowel cancer and taking steps to reduce your risks and detect it early, are paramount.  
Bowel cancer - the facts

 

  • 15,253 Australians are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year (66% colon, 33% rectal). 

    • 13,067 (85.7%) of whom are aged 55 years and over while 2,186 (14.3%) of whom are aged 55 years and under.
  • Bowel cancer is Australia’s second biggest cancer killer after lung cancer, claiming the lives of 4,346 people every year (3,891 (or 89.5%) aged 55 years and over).

  • Both men and women are at risk of developing bowel cancer, with a split of around 55% male and 45% female.

  • Early detection offers the best hope of reducing the number of Australians who die each year from bowel cancer. 

Risk statistics by age

 

The risk of bowel cancer increases with age, as indicated in the table below:

 

30
Men: 1 in 1,350
risk of bowel cancer over the next 10 years
Women: 1 in 1,390
risk of bowel cancer over the next 10 years
40
Men: 1 in 313
risk of bowel cancer over the next 10 years
Women: 1 in 370
risk of bowel cancer over the next 10 years
50
Men: 1 in 87
risk of bowel cancer over the next 10 years
Women: 1 in 125
risk of bowel cancer over the next 10 years
60
Men: 1 in 36
risk of bowel cancer over the next 10 years
Women: 1 in 57
risk of bowel cancer over the next 10 years
70
Men: 1 in 22
risk of bowel cancer over the next 10 years
Women: 1 in 34
risk of bowel cancer over the next 10 years

Note: Absolute risk is the observed or calculated probability of the occurrence of bowel cancer in a population.

Bowel cancer in people aged 50 years and over
 
The risk of bowel cancer rises sharpely and progressively from the age of 50.
 
Your risk continues to rise with each birthday thereafter.
 
If you are aged 50 years and over 'doing nothing is not an option' when it comes to bowel cancer risk.
 
  • If you are experiencing symptoms it is very important to talk to your GP ASAP.

  • If you have a family/personal history of bowel cancer/polyps it is important to discuss your bowel cancer risk with your GP.

  • If you are not experiencing symptoms and do not have a family/personal history of bowel cancer/polyps it is important to screen for bowel cancer every 1 to 2 years from age 50.

BowelScreen Australia Bowel Cancer Australia

Bowel cancer in younger people (aged 55 years and under) 

You should never be told that you are too young to have bowel cancer.
 
While bowel cancer is more common in people aged 55 years and over, bowel cancer increasingly affects all age groups.
 
It is a common misconception that bowel cancer is 'an old person's disease'.
 
Although a large majority of newly diagnosed bowel cancer cases occur in people aged 55 years and over, more than 2,000 'younger' Australians are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year.
 
So bowel cancer risk is certainly something people of all ages need to be aware of.
 
For more information visit nevertooyoung.org.au