The annual public awareness campaign runs from January – March.
Bowel Cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women in Australia and is more common in people over the age of 50 (www.cancer.org.au 2019). Bowel cancer develops from the inner lining of the bowel and is usually preceded by grwoths called polyps, which may become invasive cancer if detected,
“The risk of being diagnosed (of bowel cancer) by age 85 is 1 in 11 for men and 1 in 16 for women” – www.cancer.org.au (2019).
Bowel cancer symptoms:
- change in bowel habit with diarrhoea, constipation or the feeling of incomplete emptying;
- thin bowel movements;
- blood in the stools;
- abdominal pain, bloating or cramping;
- anal or rectal pain;
- a lump in the anus or rectum;
- weight loss;
- fatigue;
- unexplained anaemia;
(Cancer Council, 2019)
“Around 17,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year but when detected early 90% of cases can be successfully treated” – www.cancerscreening .gov.au (2019).
Causes of bowel cancer:
- inherited genetic risk and family history;
- inflammatory bowel disease;
- polyps;
- high red meat consumption, especially processed meats;
- being overweight or obese;
- high alcohol consumption;
- smoking;
(Cancer Council, 2019)
If you experience any of the above symptoms, visit your GP for testing – this may involve a blood test, colonoscopy, CT or MRI scan or an ultrasound.
How can you prevent bowel cancer?
According to Cancer Council (2019), your chances of developing bowel cancer can by reduced by no smoking, a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, limiting your consumption of red meat, avoiding processed meats an maintaining a healthy body weight.