BOWEL cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed form of cancer in England. In 2014 there were 110 new cases diagnosed every day.

It is the fourth most common cancer, accounting for around 12 per cent of new patients.

A combination of lifestyle factors in the western world is viewed as one of the main causes behind bowel cancer.

Poor diet and excessive alcohol consumption have been scientifically proven to increase the risk of developing bowel cancer.

Eating more than 500g of red meat each week, and consuming excessive amounts of processed meat like bacon or ham can result in poor bowel health.

There is an even stronger link between cancer and alcohol. An estimated seven per cent of bowel cancer cases can be linked back to alcohol consumption.

What can you do to protect yourself?

Diet: A balanced diet is one of the best ways of avoiding bowel cancers. Eating a range of fruits, vegetables and fibre will improve digestion and reduce the risk of cancer.

When consuming alcohol, restricting yourself to two drinks a day if you are a man, and one drink a day if you are a woman can significantly reduce the risk of cancer.

Exercise, stopping smoking and maintaining a healthy weight are also beneficial towards preventing cancer.

Warning signs: Bowel cancer may go undetected as many of its symptoms are similar to mundane illnesses and sickness.

If you notice one of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor as soon as you can to rule out any serious illness.

They are: blood in your poo, changes in your bowel habits, a lump that develops on the right side of the stomach, sudden weight loss, feeling bloated, or constipation.

Learn more about the symptoms of bowel cancer

What can you do?

There are many avenues the public can go down when it comes to detection of bowel cancer, and treatment.

Free screening tests are offered every two years to all people in England aged 55 and over.

If you are concerned about any symptoms listed above you may have, you can request screening test you can take in your own home. This test, called a faecal occult blood test, or FOB, is free and can be requested by calling 0800 707 60 60. It can then be sent off for testing in the post.

Out of 100 tests sent away, 98 of those return as negative. If you were one of the two who have abnormal results, your GP will be able to book in further tests, to determine if there is anything wrong.

If you want to know more about bowel cancer, and how you can reduce the risk of developing it, visit www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk , or the Cancer Research UK website.