AskBioMapBiology Fun
Condition

Bowel cancer

Related terms: Colorectal cancer, Colon cancer, Bowel cancer screening

EstablishedTextbook physiology, or consistent findings reflected in national guidance.
Show on the map Ask about it

Cancer that starts in the inner lining of the bowel wall. It is the fourth most common cancer affecting Australians, and if it is found early it can be successfully treated.

  • About 15,500 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in Australia each year, according to the Better Health Channel.
  • The screening test is called the faecal occult blood test (iFOBT).
  • Talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms, especially if they are ongoing.

How it works

Symptoms include blood in or on your poo or on the toilet paper, a persistent or unexplained change in bowel habits, abdominal pain or swelling, losing weight without trying, weakness or tiredness, and a low red blood cell count (anaemia or iron deficiency). Risk factors include older age, a strong family history, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, polyps, a diet low in fibre, fruit, vegetables and wholegrains and high in red and processed meats, alcohol, smoking, being above a healthy weight and physical inactivity.

Australia's national bowel cancer screening programme sends a free at-home test to eligible Australians aged 50 to 74 every 2 years, and people aged 45 to 49 can request their first kit. You can lower your risk by eating plenty of vegetables and fruit, limiting red and processed meat, reducing alcohol, quitting smoking, keeping a healthy weight and being active every day.

Connections

7 connections on the map. Select a topic to read its page.

Bowel cancer affects Gut and digestive systemGut and digestive systemBowel cancer can be lowered by Dietary fibre (including prebiotics)Dietary fibreBowel cancer can be lowered by Physical activityPhysical activityBowel cancer can be raised by AlcoholAlcoholBowel cancer can be raised by Overweight and obesityOverweightand obesityBowel cancer can be raised by SmokingSmokingBowel cancer can cause Iron deficiency and anaemiaIron deficiencyand anaemiaBowel cancer affects Gut and digestive systemGut anddigestive systemBowel cancer can be lowered by Dietary fibre (including prebiotics)Dietary fibreBowel cancer can be lowered by Physical activityPhysical activityBowel cancer can be raised by AlcoholAlcoholBowel cancer can be raised by Overweight and obesityOverweight and obesityBowel cancer can be raised by SmokingSmokingBowel cancer can cause Iron deficiency and anaemiaIron deficiencyand anaemia

Bowel cancer can be raised by

Bowel cancer can be lowered by

Bowel cancer affects

Bowel cancer can cause

Sources

  1. Bowel cancerBetter Health Channel (Victorian Government), last reviewed 28 May 2025

Each connection above names its own source. See every source AskBioMap uses.

Summarised from the Better Health Channel. Sources read on 19 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.

↑ ↓ to moveEnter to openEsc to close