What
is it?
The bowel forms part of our digestive system. It is divided
into two parts, the small bowel and the large bowel. The
large bowel is made up of the colon and rectum.
Bowel cancer (or colorectal cancer) can occur anywhere
in the colon or rectum.
Cells lining the inside of the bowel are constantly dying
and being replaced. Cancer occurs when this process of
renewal goes wrong. Abnormal cells can form a polyp and
develop into cancer. If the cancer is not treated, cells
can break away and spread to other parts of the body,
often to the liver.
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Incidence
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in men,
and the second most common cancer in women in the UK.
Each year, there are 18,500 new cases of bowel cancer
in men, and over 16,000 cases in women.
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Causes and
Risk factors
The causes of bowel cancer are not known, although it
is thought that there may be a link with a diet high in
animal fats and protein, and low in fibre.
To reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer, you should
eat a healthy, balanced diet including plenty of fresh
fruit and vegetables. It is also important to take regular
exercise, maintain a healthy weight and avoid alcohol
and smoking.
There are a number of factors, which can put you at a
higher risk:
-
Age - 9 out of
10 people who get it are over the age of 50
years. Previous polyp or bowel cancer - Not
all types of polyps increase the risk of bowel
cancer, but a type called adenomatous polyp
does.
-
Personal history
of chronic bowel inflammation - Ulcerative
colitis and
Crohn's disease
will slightly increase the risk of developing
bowel cancer.
-
Obesity - Being
overweight or obese may increase the risk of
bowel cancer developing.
-
Family history
- Less than 1 in 10 cases of bowel cancer are
due to an inherited gene defect. However, there
are certain families who have an increased risk
of developing bowel cancer due to a variety
of conditions including familial adenomatous
polyposis (FAP) and hereditary non-polyposis
colon cancer (HNPCC).
-
Personal history
of bowel cancer - Having had bowel cancer before
increases the risk of a new cancer developing.
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Symptoms
Colorectal cancer is more easily
and successfully treated if it is diagnosed in the early
stages. Symptoms to look out for include:
-
Blood or mucus
in the stools.
-
-
Diarrhoea or
constipation lasting for two weeks or more.
-
The feeling
of still having to go to the toilet even
after having emptied the bowels.
-
Pain or discomfort
in the stomach area (e.g., cramps, tenderness).
-
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These symptoms may well be due to
other causes. The most common cause for bleeding, for
example, is piles (haemorrhoids). However, people who
notice any symptoms should see their GP. The earlier
bowel cancer is detected, the better the chance of cure.
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Self-examination
The best thing to do is keep a look out for the symptoms
(see ‘Symptoms’). If you experience any
of the symptoms, you should go to your GP for examination.
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What do I do if I think I've
got it?
You will usually begin by seeing your GP, who will ask
you about your general health, examine you and do some
tests. Your GP may then refer you to the hospital to
see a specialist.
At the hospital, the bowel cancer specialist will ask
questions about any previous medical problems and carry
out an examination. They will probably want to examine
your rectum with a gloved finger and may also use a
viewing tube called a sigmoidoscope.
You will then need to make an appointment to have the
rest of your bowel examined with a barium enema (an
x-ray of the large bowel) or colonoscopy (a flexible
tube is used to view the inside of the whole bowel).
A small piece of the suspected cancerous tissue (biopsy)
may be taken for microscopic examination and you may
also be asked for a stool samples for a faecal blood
test.
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Getting treated
The three main treatments for bowel cancer are:
- Surgery - About four out
of five patients undergo some form of surgery
to remove the area of the cancer and some surrounding
tissue.
- Radiotherapy - Radiotherapy
uses high-energy rays similar to X-rays to kill
cancer cells. It is used to treat symptoms and
relieve pain.
- Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy
is sometimes used after surgery to prevent recurrence.
It is also used to relieve symptoms in advanced
cases of bowel cancer.
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FAQs
How common is bowel cancer?
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Is there anything I can do to
reduce the risk of developing it?
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Can a man diagnosed with bowel
cancer make a full recovery?
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Will treatment affect my sex
drive and will I still be able to father children?
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Will I lose my masculinity?
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I’ve heard about screening
for bowel cancer. Should I be screened?
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