HealthInfo Canterbury
Reducing your risk of bowel cancer
There are several things you can do to reduce your risk of bowel cancer.
Keeping a healthy weight and being physically active will both reduce your risk of bowel cancer. Try to do at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days.
What you eat and drink can also affect your risk of bowel cancer.
- Limit red meat to no more than 700 g (uncooked weight) a week and avoid processed meat such as bacon, ham, salami and corned beef.
- Have at least five servings of vegetables and fruit each day.
- Have some grain foods each day. Choose mostly wholegrains and those naturally high in fibre, such as wholegrain bread and cereal and brown rice.
- Cut down on alcohol. To prevent cancer, it's best not to drink alcohol at all. If you do drink alcohol, follow national guidelines on how much to drink safely.
Smoking also increases your risk of bowel cancer. If you smoke, it's never too late to stop. The earlier you quit, the better.
Free bowel screening when you become eligible (currently when you're between 60 and 74) is the most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of bowel cancer. It could help save your life by finding bowel cancer at an early stage where it can often be successfully treated.
On the next page: National Bowel Screening Programme
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Endorsed by clinical director, Gastroenterology, Canterbury DHB. Last reviewed November 2020.
SourcesReview key: HIBWC-17275
