Epidemiology

1/20 people will get bowel cancer in their lifetime

Rare <40yrs old. 99%>40

Bowel cancer is the fourth most prevalent cancer in the UK, behind breast, prostate and lung cancer. Bowel cancer usually refers to cancer of the colon or rectum. Small bowel and anal cancers are less common.

Proximal tumours more common in women and older patients, distal tumours more common in men and younger patients

Pathophysiology

Majority of colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas

66% of new colorectal cancers arise in the colon (43%P, 23%D), 30% occur in the rectum

Risk factors

• Increased age
• inflammatory bowel disease
• Obesity
• Family history
• Smoking, alcohol

Others - Acromegaly, limited physical activity, lack of dietary fibre

Genetics:

• APC gene mutation