What is Bowel Cancer?

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a cancer that affects the inner lining of the bowel. It often begins as polyps which progress and may become invasive if not detected. 

Bowel Cancer

• is the deadliest cancer for young people aged 25-44 years
• is the third most common type of newly diagnosed cancer in Australia
• risk increases with age

As part of the National Bowel Cancer screening program, people aged 50-74 are sent a free test in the mail  to check for signs of Bowel Cancer. People aged 45-49 can now also request a free kit. You may also speak to your pharmacist about purchasing a screen kit if you are not eligible for a free kit. Using this test could save your life. 

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of bowel cancer may include:

• change in bowel habit including diarrhoea, constipation or the feeling of incomplete emptying
• a change in the appearance or consistency of bowel movements such as thin bowel stools
• blood in the stools
• abdominal pain, bloating or cramping
• anal or rectal pain
• a lump in the anus or rectum
• weight loss
• unexplained fatigue
• tiredness and/or anaemia (pale complexion, weakness and breathlessness) 
• blood in the urine or passing urine frequently or during the night, change in urine colour – dark, rusty or brown.

The symptoms can be indicative of bowel cancer but may also be the result of other causes such as food, medicines or other medical conditions. That is why it is important to see a medical practitioner for an assessment.  

Don't delay in talking to your medical practitioner if you are experiencing any of the described symptoms for two weeks or more, because when diagnosed early almost 99 percent of cases can be successfully treated.

Blood in the stool or rectal bleeding should never be ignored. 

Bowel Cancer Risk factors

The are several factors that increase your risk of bowel cancer including:

• a diet low in fibre
• high red meat consumption, especially processed meats
• being overweight or obese
• alcohol consumption
• smoking tobacco
• inherited genetic risk and family history
• inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease
• polyps
• having a previous diagnosis of bowel cancer.

Prevention

It has been shown that by endoscopic screening  (colonoscopy) combined with adopting 5 healthy lifestyle factors 61% of bowel cancer cases may be prevented. 

Modifiable lifestyle factors include:

• Alcohol- If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount.
• Body fatness- adults should avoid weight gain and increases in waist circumference
• Dairy products and calcium supplements- Include dairy products such as low-fat milk, yoghurt, and cheese, in your daily diet. If you are lactose intolerant or need to avoid dairy for other reasons, speak with your GP or a nutritionist about a daily calcium supplement appropriate for you.
• Physical activity- aim to be active for at least 30 minutes per day. Limit sedentary activities such as watching tv. 
• Poly removal- Early detection is important. Undertake screening which is appropriate to your level of risk of developing bowel cancer. 
• Red and processed meats- Limit red meat to no more than 3 times per week and eat little or no processed meat.
• Smoking- Quit smoking and avoid exposure to tobacco smoke. Speak to your pharmacists about ways to help you quit. 
• Dietary Fibre- Aim for two-thirds or more of your meal being wholegrains, vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts and no more than one-third with animal protein such as poultry or lean red meat.

Screening

Bowel cancer can be present without any noticeable symptoms. Undertaking screening appropriate to your personal level of risk can aid in early detection and treatment. 

Australian medical guidelines recommend using a faecal immunochemical test every 2 years for people ages 45-74 years. When identified early, almost 99% of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated.

Bowel screening tests are easy to use at home. It can detect blood in poo from polyps or early stage bowel cancer. If you receive a positive test result you should contact your medical practitioner for further investigation. A negative test result means no blood was detected and you should repeat the test every 2 years. However, if you have any symptoms, you should see your medical practitioner for further investigation regardless of the result. 

For more information on Bowel cancer, please speak to your friendly pharmacist or medical practitioner. 

REFERENCES

Bowel Cancer Australia. (2024). Bowel Cancer Australia Retrieved from https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/screening

Cancer Council. (2023). Bowel Cancer. Retreived from https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer

Department of Health. (2024). Change to the eligible age for bowel screening. Retrieved from https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-bowel-cancer-screening-program/about-the-national-bowel-cancer-screening-program/lowered-eligible-age