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CancerStats Key Facts on Bowel Cancer

This page presents key cancer incidence, survival and mortality statistics, the main risk factors and screening information for large bowel cancer. You can download a PDF of the large bowel cancer key facts page.

The bowel cancer statistics on these pages are designed for health professionals. If you are looking for information because you or someone you know has been affected by bowel cancer , then the CancerHelp UK pages on bowel cancer may be more useful and relevant. CancerHelp UK also includes a straightforward guide to understanding statistics.

How common is large bowel cancer?

• Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK.
• Each year more than 36,500 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK, that’s 100 people every day.

• Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in women after breast cancer, with around 16,500 new cases diagnosed each year.
• More than 20,000 men are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK each year making it the third most common cancer in men after prostate and lung cancer.
• Almost three-quarters of bowel cancer cases occur in people aged 65 and over.
• Bowel cancer incidence rates have remained relatively stable for over a decade.
• Worldwide over a million new cases of bowel cancer were diagnosed in 2002.
• The lowest incidence rates of bowel cancer are seen in South Central Asia, and Eastern, Western, Northern and Middle African countries. The highest rates are in Europe, North America and Australasia.

Read more in-depth UK bowel cancer incidence statistics.

How many people survive large bowel cancer?

• Around half of people diagnosed with bowel cancer survive for at least five years after diagnosis.
• Five-year survival rates for bowel cancer have doubled over the last 30 years.
• Research suggests over 80% of bowel cancer patients will survive for more than five years if diagnosed at the earliest stage.
• Younger bowel cancer patients have a better prognosis than older patients.

Read more in-depth bowel cancer survival statistics.

How many people die from large bowel cancer?

• Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK after lung cancer.
• Around 16,000 people die of bowel cancer each year in the UK.
• Bowel cancer death rates have been falling since the late 1970s. Over the last decade death rates have dropped by around 17%.
• Worldwide bowel cancer kills around half a million people each year, two-thirds of these deaths are in the more developed regions.

Read more in-depth UK bowel cancer mortality statistics.

What causes large bowel cancer?

• High intake of red and processed meat will increase the chances of developing bowel cancer whereas a diet rich in fibre will reduce your risk.

• Around 70% of adults in England do not eat the recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day.
• At least 10% of colon cancers in the UK are related to overweight or obesity.
• Being inactive increases risk of bowel cancer.
• Research has shown that people drinking more than 30g/day of alcohol (around 4 units) have an increased risk of bowel cancer.
• More than 10 years regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduces the risk of bowel cancer.
• People with a first degree relative with bowel cancer are at twice the average risk of developing it themselves.

Read more in-depth bowel cancer risk factors.

Screening for large bowel cancer

• The NHS Bowel Screening Programme began in England in 2006 and in Scotland in 2007.
• There could be up to 20,000 fewer deaths from bowel cancer over the next 20 years if just 60% of those eligible took up the invitation for bowel screening.

Read more in-depth bowel cancer screening and prevention.

Why not browse through our other bowel cancer information...