Bowel Cancer

What is my bowel?
Your bowel is another word for your intestines or gut and is part of your digestive system. Your digestive system helps your body breakdown the food you eat so the nutrients can be absorbed into your body. After passing through the stomach, the digested food passes into your small intestine where it enters the blood stream and is then transported all round the body.

The waste products from this are then pushed into the large intestine (or colon) and compacted together until it’s solid. The waste then collects at the end of the colon; known as the rectum, until it (faeces or poo) are expelled from the body as a bowel movement.

What is Bowel Cancer?
Bowel cancer (also known as colon or colorectal cancer) results from an abnormal growth of cells in the bowel lining. Most bowel cancers start as benign innocent growths - known as polyps- on the wall of the bowel, they are common as we get older and most are not pre-cancerous. One type called adenomacan can become cancerous. If left undetected it can grow into the wall of the bowel, which can then lead to the cancer cells entering the bloodstream and the lymph nodes. This can then cause cancer in other parts of the body, most commonly the liver and lungs. This process is called metastasis. Anal cancer is also another rare form of bowel cancer linked to HPV. (the Human Papillioma Virus).

Can I prevent it?
Whilst the exact causes of Bowel cancer are unknown there is plenty you can to reduce your chances of developing bowel cancer. Get started with these simple steps:

1. Exercise. The more active you are, the more you reduce your chances of developing bowel cancer.

2. Eat foods that are rich in fibre such as fruit and vegetables (including their skins!), nuts, seeds and wholegrain cereals.

3. Swap white bread, pasta and rice for wholegrain i.e. brown alternatives.

4. Cut down on red meat, and avoid processed meats, such as chorizo, salami, pepperoni, processed ham and sausages altogether.Cutting down on fattier cuts of meat is also wise e.g. bacon and organ meats like liver. Fish and poultry are good alternatives to red meat, as are soya and quorn.

5. Limit your alcohol intake. Bowel cancer has been linked to a heavy intake of alcohol (regularly drinking more than 4 units of alcohol a day for men). Alcohol intake in moderation is associated with a much lower risk, remember the more you cut back the more you reduce your risk.

6. Get to know all the allium family- onions, garlic, shallots, chives and leeks are all good for your gut.

7. Don’t hold it. If you need to go to the toilet, do so as soon as you can.

8. Always drink your daily glasses recommendation of water, most healthy adults need 1.5-3litres (6-8 medium glasses).

9. Lastly and most importantly, stop smoking. Quitting can be hard but enlist the help of friends and family. The NHS also offers free advice on quitting, contact your local doctors surgery for further information. Remember it’s never too late to give up smoking and reap the benefits. Patients who are still smoking at the time of their diagnosis have shorter survival times than those who have already quit.

Learn more about nutrition and exercise.

How will I know if I do have it?
Although at the early stages there is often no pain, there are symptoms to look out for. Early detection is very important with bowel cancer. Knowing when you normally need to go to the toilet, how it feels when you pass a bowel movement and what it looks like will help you to spot irregularities. Other symptoms can include: loss of appetite, lack of energy, blood in your faeces, diarrhoea, constipation or a lump in the lower abdomen. If you have any concerns about your health please consult a trained healthcare professional.