Causes of bowel cancer
The exact cause of bowel cancer is not yet known, but there are certain things that increase your risk of getting the disease. Some of which include:
- Age: 90% percent of people with bowel cancer are above the age of 50.
- Family history: Having a close relative who developed bowel cancer under the age of 50puts you at a greater lifetime risk of developing the disease. You could inherit a genetic gene that causes bowel cancer. Regular screening is offered to people in this situation, and you should discuss with your doctor on the best approach to treat it.
- Diet: An unbalanced diet, usually one that is high in red and processed meat and low in fiber can increase your risk.
- Being overweight or obese: bowel cancer is more common with people that are overweight
- High alcohol consumption: too much alcohol intake can increase you risk of getting bowel cancer
- Smoking tobacco: smoking may also increase your risk of getting bowel cancer
- Lack of exercise: being inactive would mean you are not burning any fat which can also increase your risk of getting bowel cancer.
Another factors that increases your risk of getting bowel cancer is when you’ve had relating conditions, such as ulcerative colitis [2] or Crohn’s disease [3] in the colon.