April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Someone dies of bowel cancer in the UK every 30 minutes but incredibly, nearly 40% of people in the UK can’t name a single symptom. That’s why this year, Bowel Cancer UK has launched a new campaign, #KnowTheHigh5 to raise awareness of the red flag symptoms of the disease.
Being able to recognise the symptoms of bowel cancer and take action really could save your life – or that of a friend or loved one.
In this blog we look at what the bowel does, what happens when bowel cancer develops, share some facts and statistics and most important of all – focus on the signs and prevention.
The bowel and digestion
The bowel forms the lower portion of our digestive system, composed of a small and large bowel – known as the small and large intestine. Its main role is to break down and absorb the nutrients from the food we have eaten to be used to fuel our body. Alongside this, it produces solid waste to be excreted from our body known as stools/faeces.
The small intestine absorbs nutrients from the broken down food and then passes them through to the large bowel/intestine. Bacteria present in the colon further breaks down any food and is then moved on in a solid form to be excreted when we go to the toilet.
Bowel cancer awareness
Bowel cancer commonly affects the large colon and is referred to as colorectal cancer. The exact causes of bowel cancer are unknown, but cancer can develop in our cells when they change and divide in an uncontrolled manner. Cell division is a normal process; however, they divide quicker and abnormally when they are cancerous. This can create a lump of tissue, referred to as polyps which form on the inner lining of the bowel. It does not mean all polyps will be cancerous, as they can form and disappear on their own.
Bowel cancer in numbers
According to Bowel Cancer UK bowel cancer affects:
- 43,000 people being diagnosed in the UK each year
- 9/10 cases are newly found in those over the age of 50, with 6/10 diagnosed over the age of 70
- There are approximately 268,000 people living with bowel cancer in the UK
- 90% of cases are successfully treated
There are predisposing factors that can contribute to developing bowel cancer, however this does not mean that it will always occur. These factors include:
- Being aged 50 and over
- Family history
- Diet – evidence suggests diets high in red meat increase the risk of developing colon cancer
- Smoking and alcohol intake
- Obesity
- Inactivate lifestyle
- Digestive disorder such as Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis
Symptoms
The symptoms for bowel cancer vary from person to person, and although there are various signs it does not mean that all will present themselves at once. Some of these symptoms are subtle and may become more noticeable over time. The following symptoms may present such as:
- Bleeding from your bottom or blood present in stools
- Bowel habit changes such as looser stools, runnier and going more often than you are used to
- Unexplained weight loss
- Sometimes abdominal pain may present
- Extreme tiredness for no reason
- A pain or lump in your tummy/ bloating after eating
Diagnosis
If you experience any of the above symptoms, then a consultation with your GP should be carried out. During this time, they will ask you questions regarding the symptoms you present, and the following examinations may take place for further investigation:
- Examine your tummy
- Examine your bottom with a process called digital rectal examination.
- Blood tests
- Colonoscopy
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
- CT scan
- Biopsies if required
Preventing bowel cancer
We can reduce the risks of developing bowel cancer by making small changes in our lifestyle and including healthier habits which will serve us well for the long term.
Our diet is one area where changes can have a big impact on preventing many serious health conditions including bowel cancer. Ensuring our diet is rich in fibre helps to keep our digestive system functioning effectively and stay healthy. It provides bulk from the food digested to ensure we can excrete the waste and help the bowel function as it should. There are two types of fibre to include called insoluble and soluble
Insoluble fibre provides bulk in the digested food eaten to help move it through the colon and into the bowel and can prevent constipation. Soluble fibre food sources once digested absorb water and turn into a gel like substance which aids towards softening faeces to make it easier to be excreted by the bowel. Not only does this help with a healthy digestive system, but it also helps lower our cholesterol and promotes healthy heart function.
Food sources from both, insoluble and soluble fibres are:
- Pulses, beans and nuts
- Wholegrain foods such as brown rice, pasta, brown bread, grains, potatoes with skins on
- Root vegetables
- Fruits that are seeded, apples, blueberries
- Oats, barley and spelt
The benefits of diet and exercise
Staying hydrated is an essential factor for a healthy and functioning body with a recommended 1.6-2 litres of fluids per day. This can be dependent upon our activity levels and occupation with some being more active, and therefore may require more fluid intake to keep it balanced. Hydration helps to ensure the digestive system functions optimally as well as other important bodily processes such as cell development, blood pressure, lubrication of joints, regulation of body temperature and for vital organ functions.
Ensuring we have a balanced diet including a variety of different sources mentioned above, are the basis of the healthy lifestyle needed to reduce the likelihood of developing bowel cancer. Alongside reducing this risk, it also helps manage blood sugars level to reduce diabetes, improves heart health and lowers cholesterol and can aid in weight management. Regular exercise also helps with bowel health, digestion breakdown and improves muscular strength to carry out daily lifestyle tasks required from us.
In conclusion
The fact that around 40% of us are unaware of any of the symptoms of bowel cancer tells us just how easy it could be for incidences to go undetected. As with any condition, prevention strategies are preferable to taking remedial action. Fortunately, we can reduce the risks of developing bowel cancer by making small changes in our lifestyle and diet that offer wider benefits beyond prevention.
Further reading
If you’d like to further your awareness and understanding of bowel cancer, the following articles will be of help.
https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/support-us/bowel-cancer-awareness-month/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/symptoms/
https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/risk-factors/reducing-your-risk/diet/
https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/causes/
