IT'S a disease many of us don't want to talk about, despite the fact that it kills nearly three Queenslanders every day.

In fact, 1 in 10 Queensland men and 1 in 13 Queensland women are likely to be diagnosed with bowel cancer before they reach age 85.

The good news is that many of these cases can be prevented, and many deaths can be avoided if we detect it early.

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in Queensland.

Each year, more than 2900 new cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed across the state, and nearly 1000 of us die from the disease.

So what exactly is bowel cancer? As most of us know, our bowels have two sections: the small intestine and the large intestine. Bowel cancer refers to tumours that develop in the large intestine.

Generally, bowel cancers are slow-growing and develop from polyps, which are growths on the inner lining of the bowel wall. If left untreated, polyps can continue to develop and become cancerous.

A cancerous bowel tumour can remain localised in the bowel for some time, but also has the potential to spread to lymph nodes, glands and other organs.

The key to halting the spread of the cancer to other parts of the body is early detection.

When detected early, bowel cancer is curable in about 90 per cent of cases - which is why it's vitally important for those who are aged 50 years and over be screened for bowel cancer every two years.

Under the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, Queenslanders aged 50, 55, 60 and 65 can take a free screening test by completing a simple 'at home' faecal occult blood test (FOBT).

Although age is a major risk factor with bowel cancer, lifestyle factors, a personal or family history of bowel cancer, or the presence of inflammatory bowel disease can also be contributing factors.

Diet and lifestyle is also a major risk factor, and one that Queenslanders of all ages should take note of.

You can take steps to reduce your personal risk simply by introducing healthy lifestyle changes: boost your intake of fibrous food; avoid or limit consumption of alcohol; cut down on eating red and processed meats; exercise regularly; and maintain a healthy weight.

Coupled with this, it's important to get to know your body and be aware of changes in your bowel habits.

Symptoms can include rectal bleeding such as blood in the stool, a recent change in usual bowel patterns, lack of energy, unexplained weight loss or lack of appetite, and persistent cramping or abdominal pain.

While the presence of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have bowel cancer, they should not be ignored. See your GP urgently if you experience any or all of these things.

This month put your health first and remember - early detection makes all the difference.

A simple FOBT could save your life, because you only live once.

To take part or find out more about the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, phone the information line 1800 118 868 or visit http://www.cancerscreening.gov.au.

More information about Cancer Council Queensland is available at http://www.cancerqld.org.au or Cancer Council's 13 11 20.