- Bleeding from the bottom – (rectal bleeding) without any obvious reason. If you have other symptoms such as itching or needing to strain it may just be piles, but still get checked in case.
- Persistent change in bowel habit – especially going to the toilet more often or if the stools are looser than normal.
- Abdominal pain – especially if severe.
- A lump you can feel in your tummy.
- Unexplained weight loss or tiredness.
What can you do to reduce your risk of getting bowel cancer?
- Reduce your alcohol intake – as bowel cancer is linked to high alcohol intake. The more you cut down, the more you reduce your risk .
- Diet – can have a big impact. Bowel cancer is still quite rare in the developing world, so you need to reduce your saturated fat, reduce your intake or red and processed meat, and increase your dietary fibre (fruit and vegetables).
- Increase your physical activity – try for half an hour of moderate activity five times a week. The more active you are the better.
- Obesity is associated with an increase in bowel cancer, so weight loss to a healthy BMI will lower your risk.
- Smoking – long term smokers are more likely then non-smokers to develop bowel cancer. So another really good reason to quit.
- Age – bowel cancer is commoner in people 60 and over (but 2 in 10 are younger than this)
- Bowel disease – some bowel diseases give you an increased risk of developing bowel cancer, but if you are known to have these diseases, then it may be possible to arrange regular bowel.
- Family history – some families have an inherited factor and also if you have a close family member with bowel cancer this can increase your risk. Discuss this with your doctor as it may be possible to arrange screening.
So now you can SURVIVE
- Stop smoking
- Understand your symptoms and see your doctor if you have had symptoms for 6 weeks
- Regular exercise
- Value you body, keep to a healthy weight
- Intake less alcohol
- Visit your GP if you have worrying symptoms
- Eat healthily
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