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  Bowel Cancer Australia
  Health Consumer Organisation

  Bowel Cancer Australia works to reduce the impact of bowel cancer in our society through awareness, education, support and research. We aim to help save ... View profile

  Hi Beverly,
  
  
  
  Thanks very much for your post and question.
  
  
  
  Our nurse advisor will be in touch shortly with a response.
  
  
  
  In the meantime, there is quite a bit of information available on our website that you might like to have a look through, in particular the Risk Factors: Family History web page.
  
  
  
  Kind Regards,
  
  
  
  The team at Bowel Cancer Australia
  
  
  
  Please Note: Bowel Cancer Australia's Nurse and Nutritionist Advisory services are subject to the following disclaimer. Reply to this post  |  Report
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  bevsolsky
  Healthshare Member

  Thank you very much for your prompt reply. Is the Risk Factors: Family History document on the Healthshare site, I couldnt find it?
  
  Beverly Reply to this post  |  Report
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• • 

    Bowel Cancer Australia
    Health Consumer Organisation

    Bowel Cancer Australia works to reduce the impact of bowel cancer in our society through awareness, education, support and research. We aim to help save ... View profile

    Hi Beverly,
    
    
    
    The Risk Factors: Family History information is actually a webpage on the Bowel Cancer Australia website.
    
    
    
    There is a section on family history in the Bowel Cancer Screening Pathway document, which is in the Healthshare bowel cancer library, but the more detailed information about family history is available on the Bowel Cancer Australia website at http://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/bca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=142&Itemid=291.
    
    
    
    Hope that helps and wishing you a lovely weekend.
    
    
    
    Kind Regards,
    
    
    
    The team at Bowel Cancer Australia
    
    
    
    Please Note: Bowel Cancer Australia's Nurse and Nutritionist Advisory services are subject to the following disclaimer. Reply to this post  |  Report
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• 

  Bowel Cancer Australia
  Health Consumer Organisation

  Bowel Cancer Australia works to reduce the impact of bowel cancer in our society through awareness, education, support and research. We aim to help save ... View profile

  Hi Beverly,
  
  
  
  Thank you very much for your question about whether bowel cancer is a hereditary condition.
  
  
  
  Based on current trends, 1 in 12 Australians will develop bowel cancer before age 85. Around 75% of people who develop bowel cancer have no family history of the disease. However, having relatives, especially first degree relatives such as parents, brothers, sisters or children with bowel cancer significantly increases your risk of developing the disease.
  
  
  
  This risk is increased even further in people with a history of bowel cancer in: one or more first degree relatives (parents, siblings, children) younger than age 55, or two or more first degree relatives (parents, siblings, children) at any age.
  
  
  
  For example, if either of your parents are diagnosed with bowel cancer before age 55, you have a 3-6 fold increase in the risk of developing the disease. If two of your close relatives are diagnosed with bowel cancer (at any age), your risk increases by a similar amount.
  
  
  
  Your risk of developing bowel cancer doubles if you have one close relative who is diagnosed with the disease aged 60 or 70.
  
  
  
  We therefore advise that anyone with a family history of bowel cancer have regular checkups and consult their doctor.
  
  
  
  As mentioned in the earlier posts - further details can be found on the Risk Factors page on our website at http://ow.ly/5zk7
  
  
  Hope that helps and wishing you a wonderful week.
  
  
  
  Kind regards
  
  
  
  Tammy
  
  Bowel Cancer Australia Nurse Advisor
  
  
  
  Please Note: Bowel Cancer Australia's Nurse and Nutritionist Advisory services are subject to the following disclaimer. Reply to this post  |  Report
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