Bowel Cancer
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the third most common cancer in the UK. Over 42.000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK.
If diagnosed early, bowel cancer is treatable and curable.
Signs and symptoms
The 3 main symptoms of bowel cancer are:
- Persistent blood in your poo
- A persistent change in your bowel habits
- Persistent lower abdominal pain, bloating or discomfort
Most people with these symptoms do not have bowel cancer, as they might have other health problems that can cause similar symptoms. Any symptoms you may have, do not ignore them. Reach out to your GP for further investigation.
What do you need to do?
If you are concerned, speak to your GP. Screening every 1 to 2 years can reduce your risk of dying from bowel cancer by up to 33%.
- Eat a healthy high-fibre diet with a variety of fruit and vegetables, reducing saturated fats.
- Exercise regularly, reduce consumption of red and processed meat, and maintain a healthy body weight.
- Do not smoke and try to drink alcohol in moderation. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop bowel cancer, and even more likely to die from the disease.
- If possible, know your family history. If there is a strong family history of bowel cancer in your family, genetic counselling can be beneficial.
