Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the second biggest cause of cancer death in Australia. Undetected, bowel cancer can spread into the wall of the bowel, the lymph nodes (glands) and then to other organs. If you are 50 or over, you are at higher risk of developing bowel cancer. But if detected early, over 90% of bowel cancers can be successfully treated.
Early detection is key in saving lives when it comes to bowel cancer. There are certain lifestyle and diet changes you can make as well as treatment plans that are available if you happen to have bowel cancer.
Bowel cancer can develop without symptoms, but many people with bowel cancer do experience symptoms. These can include:
- blood in your poo or in the toilet bowl
- a recent and persistent change in your toilet habit, such as looser poos, severe constipation and/or if you need to poo more often than usual
- unexplained tiredness or weight loss
- stomach pain.
If you notice any of these, it is important that you speak to your doctor straight away.
Bowel screening spots the early signs of bowel cancer, before symptoms may appear – screening is the best way to find bowel cancer early when successful treatment is likely.
We recommend all Australians aged 50-74 take part in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program. If you’re aged 50-74, you will receive a free at-home screening test every two years in the mail through the program. Do the test – it could save your life.
Diet & lifestyle
Healthy diet and lifestyle choices, as well as screening and surveillance, can help to reduce your bowel cancer risk. Evidence reveals quitting smoking, abstaining from or limiting alcohol consumption, and eating foods containing dietary fibre are all beneficial. Maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in regular physical activity have also been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer, but not rectal cancer. Additionally, people who are more physically active before a bowel cancer diagnosis are less likely to die from the disease than those who are less active. For people aged 50-70 years without symptoms or a family history of bowel cancer, a GP may also recommend taking a low dose of aspirin for at least 2.5 years. Whether or not a person should take aspirin depends on their general health, and whether they have another condition that could be made worse by aspirin (e.g. allergy to aspirin, stomach ulcers, bleeding or kidney problems).
Depending on your treatment, your treatment team may consist of a number of different health professionals, such as:
- GP (General Practitioner)- looks after your general health and works with your specialists to coordinate treatment.
- Colorectal surgeon- diagnoses bowel cancer and performs bowel surgery.
- Gastroenterologist- specialises in diseases of the digestive system.
- Medical oncologist- prescribes and coordinates the course of chemotherapy.
- Radiation oncologist- prescribes and coordinates radiation therapy treatment.
- Cancer nurses- assist with treatment and provide information and support throughout your treatment.
- Dietitian- recommends an eating plan to follow while you are in treatment and recovery.
- Other allied health professionals- such as social workers, pharmacists and counsellors..
