Does a family history of bowel cancer increase my risk?

Having a family history of bowel cancer does increase your risk of developing the disease, but only by a small amount (5% to 10%).

This risk increases if you have several close family members with bowel cancer, especially if they were diagnosed at a young age. 

If you have a family history of bowel cancer, your consultant can offer advice on steps you can take to reduce your risk, such as genetic testing or more frequent screening.