June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

Bowel Cancer is Australia’s second-deadliest cancer and, sadly, claims the lives of 101 people every week. It does not differentiate between young or old, but there are modifiable factors that you can do to lower your chances of developing bowel cancer.

What is bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) is a type of cancer that develops in the large intestine, which includes the colon and rectum. It occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably and form a tumour within the bowel.

Bowel cancer often develops slowly over time, beginning as small growths called polyps. While not all polyps become cancerous, some can develop into cancer if left untreated.

Four stages of bowel cancer

Stage 1: Cancer cells are present only in the bowel wall

Stage 2: Cancer cells have spread to the outer surface of the bowel wall 

Stage 3: Cancer cells have grown to lymph nodes near the bowel 

Stage 4: The cancer has spread beyond the bowel to other organs such as the lungs or liver. This is when cancer has metastasised. 

Importantly, around 90% of bowel cancers can be treated successfully if detected early, highlighting the importance of regular screening and early intervention.

Risk factors

There are numerous risk factors for developing bowel cancer, which include:

1. An unbalanced diet of eating too much red or processed meat. This also includes eating charred meat.
2. Smoking 
3. Family history can increase your risk of developing bowel cancer. These include inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and having a family history of bowel cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum. Additionally, a family history of cancers in other body systems near the digestive system can also be a risk factor, such as a family history of ovarian cancer or other digestive cancers.
4. Certain genetic disorders include FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis) or Lynch Syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer). These are genetic mutations that can lead to the development of bowel cancers.
5. Being overweight or having a high BMI can predispose you to bowel cancer.
6. High alcohol consumption
7. Type II diabetes
8. Older age

What can you do to prevent bowel cancer?

There are several practical steps you can take to help reduce your risk of bowel cancer:

Avoid smoking and minimise exposure to second-hand smoke
Tobacco smoke contains harmful chemicals that can damage cells in the bowel and increase the risk of cancer development over time.

Eat a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains
These foods contain important vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre that support gut health and may help protect against bowel cancer.

Increase dietary fibre intake
Fibre helps keep the digestive system healthy by supporting regular bowel movements and reducing the amount of time waste products remain in contact with the bowel lining.

Limit processed and red meat consumption
Diets high in processed meats and excessive red meat intake have been linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer, particularly when meats are heavily charred or burnt.

Exercise regularly
Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week. Regular exercise supports healthy digestion, helps maintain a healthy weight and may reduce inflammation in the body.

Maintain a healthy body weight
Being overweight or obese is associated with a higher risk of bowel cancer, particularly due to increased inflammation and hormonal changes within the body.

Limit alcohol consumption
Excessive alcohol intake has been linked to a higher risk of several cancers, including bowel cancer. Current Australian guidelines recommend no more than two standard drinks per day.

Stay aware of changes in bowel habits or symptoms
Symptoms such as blood in the stool, ongoing abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss or persistent changes in bowel habits should not be ignored and should be assessed by a healthcare professional.

Participate in regular bowel cancer screening
Screening can help detect bowel cancer early, often before symptoms appear, when treatment is most effective. It can also identify pre-cancerous polyps before they develop into cancer.

Bowel cancer screening

Regular screening is one of the most effective ways to detect bowel cancer early, often before symptoms appear.

The Australian Government’s National Bowel Cancer Screening Program provides free bowel screening tests every two years for eligible Australians aged 50 to 74. The test can be completed easily and privately at home.

If you have a strong family history of bowel cancer or other risk factors, you may need earlier or more frequent screening. Speak with your healthcare provider about what screening schedule is appropriate for you.

Today, book an appointment with one of the GPs at HSMC to be screened for bowel cancer. 

More information on bowel cancer can be found here.