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THE SHORT & TALL OF IT
• Bowel cancer is a disease of the large bowel (colon) or rectum. It is also sometimes called colorectal or colon cancer.
• It is the second largest cause of cancer deaths in the UK.
• In 2006 there were over 30,000 new cases of bowel cancer in England and over 14000 deaths.
• Around 1 in 20 people will get bowel cancer at some point in their life.
• It is the second largest cause of cancer deaths in the UK.
• In 2006 there were over 30,000 new cases of bowel cancer in England and over 14000 deaths.
• Around 1 in 20 people will get bowel cancer at some point in their life.
THE NHS BOWEL CANCER SCREENING PROGRAMME
The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme is being rolled out across England by December 2009. Men and women aged 60 to 69 are sent a testing kit to complete in the privacy of their own homes. The completed kit is sent off to a laboratory. The test is looking for hidden blood in the stools, which could mean bowel cancer. 2 out of 100 people who take the test have a positive result, and are invited to go for a bowel scope (colonoscopy) at a local screening unit.
If the programme is already operating in your area, make the decision to complete the kit when you are sent one. Research has shown that screening can cut the death rate from bowel cancer by 16% in those screened. The programme will be extended to men and women aged 70 to 75 from 2010.
If the programme is already operating in your area, make the decision to complete the kit when you are sent one. Research has shown that screening can cut the death rate from bowel cancer by 16% in those screened. The programme will be extended to men and women aged 70 to 75 from 2010.
Causes of bowel cancer
The definite cause of bowel cancer is still a mystery. But we know some things do increase your risk. Your risk is higher if:
• You eat lots of junk food, fat and sugar and not enough fibre.
• Someone in your family had bowel cancer
• You don’t exercise
• You’re overweight
• You smoke tobacco
• You or a member of your family have a bowel condition called polyps or adenomatous polyposis.
The good news is you can reduce your risk, even if bowel cancer is in the family by having a healthy diet, keeping your weight under control quit smoking etc.
What are the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer?
Not all bowel cancer patients will have symptoms and the symptoms may vary. Symptoms that might be bowel cancer include:
• A persistent change in normal bowel habit, such as going more often and diarrhoea, especially if you are also bleeding from your bottom.
• Bleeding from the bottom, particularly over the age of 50
• A lump in your tummy or back passage felt by your doctor
• Pain that affects your appetite
• Unexplained iron deficiency in men or in women after the menopause
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unexplained extreme tiredness
Please remember that most of these symptoms will not be cancer
Medical checks and treatment
Having a rectal examination is not everyone’s idea of a good day but it can save your life. It’s not painful and your doctor does them everyday.
Getting it sorted
If you do have bowel cancer, treatment will depend on where the cancer is whether it has spread and your general health. Surgery is the main form of treatment, but more doctors are combining it with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Where can I get more information?
