- ‘I never thought I’d have any problems’
- ‘If it’s caught early, you stand a good chance of recovery’
- ‘It was soft and smooth – I could feel it’
- Causes of bowel cancer
- Diagnosing bowel cancer
- Introduction
- Living with bowel cancer
- new-treatments
- NICEguidelinesforbowelcancer(colon,colorectal)
- Preventing bowel cancer
- questionstoaskbowelcancer
- recovery
- risk
- Screening for bowel cancer
- See what the doctor sees with Map of Medicine
- Signs and symptoms of bowel cancer
- socialsupport
- supportpage
- Treating bowel cancer
Bowel cancer
'I never thought I'd have any problems'
Anne Messenger, 65, from London was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2005. After keyhole surgery, she is now in the clear and focused on helping others.
“For years I’d suffered from indigestion and I thought I had irritable bowel syndrome, but when I noticed I had passed a little bit of blood, I went to the doctor. I was referred to St George’s Hospital for tests and, following a stool sample, I was told I had a peptic ulcer. However, when I had a routine colonoscopy, doctors discovered that it was bowel cancer.
“It turned out that the initial bleeding had nothing to do with the cancer, so I’m fortunate that whatever caused it put me in a position where the doctors could pick up on the cancer.
“Not long after my diagnosis, I was given a date for an operation to remove the cancer. I had a full body scan and the consultant told me that everything looked straightforward. They would perform keyhole surgery and I wouldn’t need a colostomy.
“Leading up to the surgery, I had another colonoscopy, in which purple dye was used to pinpoint where doctors needed to operate. I never thought I’d have any problems, as I was naturally upbeat.
“The operation went well and they removed an 8cm (3 inch) growth. Doctors told me there was a 20% chance of recurrence, which would be halved if I had a course of chemotherapy. I began chemotherapy two weeks after my operation, but I had a bad reaction to it and had to stop.
“For the two years after my operation, I had a check-up every three months. I now have one every six months. I had my last cigarette on the morning of my operation and I have become more aware of what I eat. My diet includes lots more fruit and veg.
“My advice is to try to take a bit of control and understand what is happening to you. Pay attention and always make a note of things to ask the consultant. You don’t want to fuss, but you also don’t want the consultant to say, ‘You should have come to see me about this two months ago.’ People can find doctors intimidating, but they’re nice to everyone, so if something is worrying you, just ask. I used to call up or write to my doctor if I had any worries, and I’d take my husband with me if I was going to an appointment where I needed to take in information or make decisions about my treatment.
“Also, try to carry on as if you’re going to be fine. I did, and because of that, my family coped well.
“I am now on the cancer committee at St George’s. I think it’s best to face cancer head on, and people who survive have a better view of life than most.”
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- Published Date
- 2012-12-05 19:48:23Z
- Last Review Date
- 2012-08-28 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2014-08-28 00:00:00Z
- Classification
- Bowel cancer,Colonoscopy
Bowel cancer
'If it's caught early, you stand a good chance of recovery'
Lester and his wife Carolyn talk about his experience of bowel cancer, and offer their advice to others.
Useful Links
- Published Date
- 2012-12-05 19:48:41Z
- Last Review Date
- 2012-08-28 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2014-08-28 00:00:00Z
- Classification
Bowel cancer
'It was soft and smooth – I could feel it'
Linda recalls the day she first noticed her bowel cancer warning symptoms, and regrets not seeing her doctor straight away.
Useful Links
- Published Date
- 2012-12-05 19:48:55Z
- Last Review Date
- 2012-08-28 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2014-08-28 00:00:00Z
- Classification
Bowel cancer
Causes of bowel cancer
Cancer occurs when the cells in a certain area of your body divide and multiply too rapidly. This produces a lump of tissue known as a tumour.
Most cases of bowel cancer first develop inside clumps of cells on the inner lining of the bowel. These clumps are known as polyps. However, if you develop polyps, it does not necessarily mean you will get bowel cancer.
Exactly what causes cancer to develop inside the bowel is still unknown. However, research has shown several factors may make you more likely to develop it. These factors are outlined below.
Age
Your chances of developing bowel cancer increase as you get older. Almost nine out of 10 cases of bowel cancer in the UK are diagnosed in people over 60 years of age.
Family history
Having a family history of bowel cancer can increase your risk of developing the condition yourself, particularly if a close relative (mother, father, brother or sister) was diagnosed with bowel cancer below the age of 50.
If you are particularly concerned that your family’s medical history may mean you are at an increased risk of developing bowel cancer, it may help to speak to your GP.
If necessary, your GP can refer you to a genetics specialist who can offer more advice about your level of risk and recommend any necessary tests to periodically check for the condition.
Diet
A large body of evidence suggests a diet high in red and processed meat can increase your risk of developing bowel cancer. For this reason, the Department of Health advises people who eat more than 90 grams (cooked weight) of red and processed meat a day to cut down to 70 grams. Read more about red meat and bowel cancer risk.
There is also evidence suggesting that a diet high in fibre could help reduce your bowel cancer risk.
Read more about eating good food and a healthy diet.
Smoking
People who smoke cigarettes are more likely to develop bowel cancer, other types of cancer and other serious conditions such as heart disease than people who do not smoke.
Read more about stopping smoking
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of bowel cancer, particularly if you regularly drink large amounts of it.
Read about drinking and alcohol for more information and tips on cutting down.
Obesity
Being overweight or obese is linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer, particularly in men.
If you are overweight or obese, losing weight may help lower your chances of developing the condition.
Inactivity
People who are physically inactive have a higher risk of developing bowel cancer.
You can help reduce your risk of bowel and other cancers by being physically active every day.
Read more about health and fitness.
Digestive disorders
Some conditions affecting the bowel may put you at a higher risk of developing bowel cancer. For example, bowel cancer is more common in people who have had severe Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis for many years.
If you have one of these conditions, you will usually have regular check-ups to look for signs of bowel cancer from about 10 years after your symptoms first develop.
Check-ups will involve examining your bowel with a colonoscope – a long, narrow flexible tube containing a small camera – that is inserted into your rectum. The frequency of the colonoscopy examinations will increase the longer you live with the condition, and will also depend on factors such as how severe your ulcerative colitis is and if you have a family history of bowel cancer.
Genetic conditions
There are two rare inherited conditions that can lead to bowel cancer. They are:
- familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) – a condition that triggers the growth of non-cancerous polyps inside the bowel
- hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), also known as Lynch syndrome – an inherited gene fault (mutation) that increases your bowel cancer risk
Although the polyps caused by FAP are non-cancerous, there is a high risk that, over time, at least one will turn cancerous. Most people with FAP will have bowel cancer by the time they are 50 years of age.
As people with FAP have such a high risk of getting bowel cancer, they are often advised by their doctor to have their large bowel removed by surgery before they reach the age of 25. Families affected can find support and advice from FAP registries such as the FAP registry provided by St Mark’s Hospital, London.
Removing the bowel as a precautionary measure is also usually recommended in people with HNPCC because the risk of developing bowel cancer is so high.
Want to know more?
- Beating Bowel Cancer: causes
- Bowel Cancer Information: family history
- Bowel Cancer UK: why do I need fibre in my diet?
- Cancer Research UK: food types and bowel cancer
- Cancer Research UK: risk factors
- Wellcome Trust: FAP, HNPCC and genetic testing
Useful Links
- Published Date
- 2014-10-07 13:15:43Z
- Last Review Date
- 2014-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2016-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Classification
- Bowel cancer,Cancer and tumours,Colonic polyps,Intestinal and stomach conditions,Obesity
Bowel cancer
Diagnosing bowel cancer
When you first see your GP they will ask about your symptoms and whether you have a family history of bowel cancer.
They will then usually carry out a simple examination of your abdomen (tummy) and your bottom – known as a digital rectal examination (DRE).
This is a useful way of checking whether there are any lumps in your tummy or back passage. The tests can be uncomfortable and most people find an examination of the back passage a little embarrassing but they take less than a minute.
If your symptoms suggest you may have bowel cancer, or the diagnosis is uncertain, you will be referred to your local hospital initially for a simple examination called a flexible sigmoidoscopy
Flexible sigmoidoscopy
A flexible sigmoidoscopy is an examination of your rectum and some of your large bowel using a device called a sigmoidoscope. A sigmoidoscope is a long, thin flexible tube attached to a very small camera and light that is inserted into your rectum and up into your bowel.
The camera relays images to a monitor and can also be used to take biopsies (where a small tissue sample is removed for further analysis).
It is better for your lower bowel to be as empty as possible when sigmoidoscopy is performed, so you may be asked to carry out an enema (a simple procedure to flush your bowels) at home beforehand. This should be used at least two hours before you leave home for your appointment.
A sigmoidoscopy can feel uncomfortable but only takes a few minutes and most people go home straight after the examination.
More detailed tests
Most people with bowel cancer can be diagnosed by flexible sigmoidoscopy. However, some cancers can only be diagnosed by a more extensive examination of the colon. The two tests used for this are colonoscopy and computerised tomography (CT) colonography.
These tests are described in more detail below.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is an examination of your entire large bowel using a device called a colonoscope, which is like a sigmoidoscope but a bit longer.
Your bowel needs to be empty when a colonoscopy is performed, so you will be advised to eat a special diet for a few days beforehand and take a laxative (medication to help empty your bowel) on the morning of the examination.
You will be given a sedative to help you relax during the test, after which the doctor will insert the colonoscope into your rectum and move it along the length of your large bowel. This is not usually painful, but can feel uncomfortable.
The camera relays images to a monitor, which allows the doctor to check for any abnormal areas within the rectum or bowel that could be the result of cancer. As with a sigmoidoscopy, a biopsy may also be performed during the test.
A colonoscopy usually takes about one hour to complete, and most people can go home once they have recovered from the effects of the sedative.
After the procedure, you will probably feel drowsy for a while so you will need to arrange for someone to accompany you home and it is best for elderly people to have someone with them for 24 hours after the test. You will be advised not to drive for 24 hours.
In a small number of people it may not be possible to pass the colonoscope completely around the bowel and it is then necessary to have CT colonography.
For more information about what a colonoscopy involves, watch this video: what happens during a colonoscopy?
CT colonography
CT colonography, also known as a ‘virtual colonoscopy’, involves using a computerised tomography (CT) scanner to produce three-dimensional images of the large bowel and rectum.
During the procedure, gas is used to inflate the bowel using a thin, flexible tube placed in your rectum. CT scans are then taken from a number of different angles.
As with a colonoscopy, you may need to have a special diet for a few days and take a laxative before the test to ensure your bowels are empty when the test is carried out.
This test can help identify potentially cancerous areas in people who are not suitable for a colonoscopy due to other medical reasons. A CT colonography is a less invasive test than a colonoscopy, but you may still need to have colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy at a later stage so any abnormal areas can be removed or biopsied.
Want to know more?
- Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland: bowel cancer symptom checker
- Beating Bowel Cancer: diagnosis
- Cancer Research UK: bowel cancer tests
- Macmillan: colonoscopy
- Bowel Cancer Information: hospital tests
Further tests
If a diagnosis of bowel cancer is confirmed, further testing is usually carried out to check if the cancer has spread from the bowel to other parts of the body and to help decide on the most effective treatment for you.
These tests can include:
- a CT scan of your abdomen and chest to check if the rest of your bowel is healthy and whether the cancer has spread to the liver or lungs.
- a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is also done for people with a cancer in the rectum to provide a detailed image of the surrounding organs
Staging and grading
Once the above examinations and tests have been completed, it should be possible to determine the stage and grade of your cancer. Staging refers to how far your cancer has advanced. Grading relates to how aggressive and likely to spread your cancer is.
This is important as it helps your treatment team choose the best way of curing or controlling the cancer.
A number of different staging systems are used by doctors. A simplified version of one of the common systems used is outlined below.
- Stage 1 – the cancer is still contained within the lining of the bowel or rectum
- Stage 2 – the cancer has spread beyond the layer of muscle surrounding the bowel and may have penetrated the surface covering the bowel or nearby organs
- Stage 3 – the cancer has spread into nearby lymph nodes
- Stage 4 – the cancer has spread beyond the bowel into another part of the body, such as the liver
There are three grades of bowel cancer:
- Grade 1 is a cancer that grows slowly and has a low chance of spreading beyond the bowel
- Grade 2 is a cancer that grows moderately and has a medium chance of spreading beyond the bowel
- Grade 3 is a cancer that grows rapidly and has a high chance of spreading beyond the bowel
If you are not sure what stage or grade of cancer you have, ask your doctor.
Want to know more?
Useful Links
Related Videos (Links)
- Published Date
- 2014-10-07 13:16:02Z
- Last Review Date
- 2014-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2016-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Classification
- Barium enema,Blood tests,Bowel cancer,Cancer and tumours,Chest,Colonoscopy,CT scan,Large intestine,MRI scan,Scans, imaging and barium studies,Ultrasound scan,X-rays
Bowel cancer
Introduction
Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel. Depending on where the cancer starts, bowel cancer is sometimes called colon or rectal cancer.
Cancer can sometimes start in the small bowel (small intestine), but small bowel cancer is much rarer than large bowel cancer.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK, with around 40,000 new cases diagnosed every year.
About one in every 20 people in the UK will develop bowel cancer during their lifetime.
Signs and symptoms
The three main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in the stools (faeces), changes in bowel habit (such as to more frequent, looser stools) and abdominal (tummy) pain. However, these symptoms are very common and most people with them do not have bowel cancer.
For example, blood in the stools is more often caused by haemorrhoids (piles), and a change in bowel habit or abdominal pain is usually due to something you have eaten.
As almost nine out of 10 people with bowel cancer are over 60 years old, these symptoms are more important as people get older. They are also more significant when they persist despite simple treatments.
Most people who are eventually diagnosed with bowel cancer have one of the following symptom combinations:
- a persistent change in bowel habit causing them to go to the toilet more often and pass looser stools, usually together with blood on or in their stools
- a persistent change in bowel habit without blood in their stools, but with abdominal pain
- blood in the stools without other haemorrhoid symptoms such as soreness, discomfort, pain, itching or a lump hanging down outside the back passage
- abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always provoked by eating, sometimes resulting in a reduction in the amount of food eaten and weight loss
The symptoms of bowel cancer can be subtle and don’t necessarily make you feel ill.
Read more about the symptoms of bowel cancer.
When to seek medical advice
Try the bowel cancer symptom checker for advice on treatments you can try to see if your symptoms get better and when you should see your GP to discuss whether any tests are necessary.
Your doctor will probably carry out a simple examination of your tummy and bottom to make sure you have no lumps, and they may arrange a simple blood test to check for iron deficiency anaemia (as this can indicate whether there is any bleeding from your bowel that you haven’t been aware of).
In some cases, your doctor may decide it is best for you to have a simple test in hospital to make sure there is no serious cause for your symptoms.
Make sure you return to your doctor if your symptoms persist or keep coming back after stopping treatment, regardless of their severity or your age.
Read more about diagnosing bowel cancer.
Who’s at risk?
It’s not known exactly what causes bowel cancer, but there are a number of things that can increase your risk. These include:
- age – almost nine in 10 cases of bowel cancer occur in people aged 60 or over
- diet – a diet high in red or processed meats and low in fibre can increase your risk
- weight – bowel cancer is more common in people who are overweight or obese
- exercise – being inactive increases the risk of getting bowel cancer
- alcohol and smoking – a high alcohol intake and smoking may increase your chances of getting bowel cancer
- family history – having a close relative (mother or father, brother or sister) who developed bowel cancer below 50 years of age puts you at a greater lifetime risk of developing the condition
Some people are also at an increased risk of bowel cancer because they have another condition that affects their bowel, such as severe ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease over a long period of time.
Read more about the causes of bowel cancer and preventing bowel cancer.
Bowel cancer screening
Everyone between the ages of 60 and 69 in England is offered bowel cancer screening every two years, and the screening programme is currently being extended to those aged 70 to 74.
Screening is carried out by taking a small stool sample and testing it for the presence of blood that isn’t visible. This is known as the faecal occult blood test.
Screening plays an important part in the fight against bowel cancer because it can help detect bowel cancer before it causes obvious symptoms, which increases the chances of surviving the condition.
Read more about screening for bowel cancer.
Treatment and outlook
Bowel cancer can be treated using a combination of different treatments, depending on where the cancer is in your bowel and how far it has spread.
The main treatments are:
- surgery to remove the cancerous section of bowel, this is the most effective way of curing bowel cancer and is all that many people need
- chemotherapy – where medication is used to kill cancer cells
- radiotherapy – where radiation is used to kill cancer cells
- biological treatments – a newer type of medication that increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy and prevent the cancer from spreading
As with most types of cancer, the chance of a complete cure depends on how far the cancer has advanced by the time it is diagnosed. If the cancer is confined to the bowel then surgery will usually be able to completely remove it.
Overall, between seven and eight in every 10 people with bowel cancer will live at least one year after diagnosis and more than half of those diagnosed will live at least another 10 years.
Every year, around 16,000 people die as a result of bowel cancer.
Read more about how bowel cancer is treated and living with bowel cancer.
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- Published Date
- 2014-10-07 13:15:05Z
- Last Review Date
- 2014-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2016-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Classification
- Blood in bowel motions,Bowel cancer,Bowel cancer screening,Cancer and tumours,Faeces,Gut,Large intestine,Rectum,Safe drinking,Small intestine,Weight loss
Bowel cancer
Living with bowel cancer
Talk to others
Your GP or nurse may be able to reassure you if you have questions, or you may find it helpful to talk to a trained counsellor, psychologist or specialist telephone helpline operator. Your GP surgery will have information on these.
Some people find it helpful to talk to others with bowel cancer at a local support group or through an internet chat room.
Beating Bowel Cancer offers support services to people with bowel cancer. For example, they run a nurse advisory line on 08450 719 301 that is available from 9am to 5:30pm on Monday to Thursday, and from 9am to 4pm on Fridays. You can email a nurse at nurse@beatingbowelcancer.org.
The organisation also runs a national patient-to-patient network for people affected by bowel cancer – and their relatives – called Bowel Cancer Voices.
Want to know more?
- Beating Bowel Cancer: Bowel Cancer Voices
- Macmillan: cancer support groups
Your emotions
Having cancer can cause a range of emotions. These may include shock, anxiety, relief, sadness and depression.
Different people deal with serious problems in different ways. It is hard to predict how knowing you have cancer will affect you. However, you and your loved ones may find it helpful to know about the feelings that people diagnosed with cancer have reported.
Want to know more?
- Macmillan: the emotional effects of cancer
Recovering from surgery
Surgeons and anaesthetists have found that using an enhanced recovery programme after bowel cancer surgery helps patients recover more quickly.
Most hospitals now use this programme. It involves giving you more information before the operation about what to expect, avoiding giving you strong laxatives to clean the bowel before surgery, and in some cases giving you a sugary drink two hours before the operation to give you energy.
During and after the operation, the anaesthetist controls the amount of IV fluid you need very carefully, and after the operation you will be given painkillers that allow you to get up and out of bed by the next day.
Most people will be able to eat a light diet the day after their operation.
To reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the legs), you may be given special compression stockings that help prevent blood clots, or a regular injection with a blood thinning medication called heparin until you are fully mobile.
A nurse or physiotherapist will help you get out of bed and regain your strength so you can go home within a few days.
With the enhanced recovery programme, most people are well enough to go home within a week of their operation. The timing depends on when you and the doctors and nurses looking after you agree you are well enough to go home.
You will be asked to return to hospital a few weeks after your treatment has finished so tests can be carried out to check for any remaining signs of cancer. You may also need routine check-ups for the next few years to look out for signs of the cancer recurring.
Want to know more?
- Beating Bowel Cancer: returning home after surgery (PDF, 44kb)
- Cancer Research UK: after your operation for bowel cancer
Diet after bowel surgery
If you have had part of your colon removed, it is likely that your stools (faeces) will be looser because one of the functions of the colon is to absorb water from the stools. This may mean that you need to go to the toilet more often to pass loose stools.
You should inform your care team if this becomes a problem, because medication is available to help control it.
You may find some foods upset your bowels, particularly during the first few months after your operation.
Different foods can upset different people, but food and drink that is commonly known to cause problems include fruit and vegetables that are high in fibre, such as beans, cabbages, apples and bananas, and fizzy drinks, such as cola and beer.
You may find it useful to keep a food diary to record the effects of different foods on your bowel.
If you find that you are having continual problems with your bowels as a result of your diet, and/or you are finding it difficult to maintain a healthy diet, you should contact your care team. You may need to be referred to a dietitian for further advice.
Want to know more?
- Cancer Research UK: diet after bowel cancer
- Beating Bowel Cancer: diet and bowel cancer
- Bowel Cancer UK: eating after bowel surgery (PDF, 184kb)
Living with a stoma
If you need a temporary or permanent stoma with an external bag or pouch, you may feel worried about how you look and how others will react to you.
Information and advice about living with a stoma (including stoma care, stoma products and ‘stoma-friendly’ diets) is available on the ileostomy and colostomy topics.
For anyone wishing to obtain further information about living with a stoma, there are patient support groups who provide support for people who may have had, or are due to have, a stoma. You can obtain details through your stoma care nurse or visit them online for further information.
These include:
- Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group – this organisation provides a unique visiting service for anyone wishing to speak with someone who has been through similar surgery
- The Colostomy Association
Want to know more?
- Cancer Research UK: coping with a stoma after bowel cancer
- Colostomy Association
Sex and bowel cancer
Having cancer and its treatment may affect how you feel about relationships and sex. Although most people are able to enjoy a normal sex life after bowel cancer treatment, if you have stoma you may feel self-conscious or uncomfortable.
Talking about how you feel with your partner may help you both to support each other. Or you may feel you’d like to talk to someone else about your feelings. Your doctor or nurse will be able to help.
Want to know more?
- Cancer Research UK: sex and bowel cancer
- Beating Bowel Cancer: body image and intimate relations
- Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group
Financial concerns
A diagnosis of cancer can cause money problems because you are unable to work or someone you are close to has to stop working to look after you. There is financial support available for carers and for you if you have to stay off work for a while or have to stop work because of your sickness.
Free prescriptions
People being treated for cancer are entitled to apply for an exemption certificate giving free prescriptions for all medication, including medication to treat unrelated conditions.
The certificate is valid for five years and you can apply for a certificate by speaking to your GP or cancer specialist.
Want to know more?
- Get help with prescription costs
- GOV.UK: benefits
- Care and support
- Macmillan: financial issues
- Cancer Research UK: free prescriptions for people with cancer
- Money Advice Service
- Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group
Dealing with dying
If you are told there is nothing more that can be done to treat your bowel cancer, your GP will still provide you with support and pain relief. This is called palliative care. Support is also available for your family and friends.
Want to know more?
- End of life care
- Macmillan: caring for someone with advanced cancer
- Macmillan: dying with cancer
- Marie Curie Cancer Care
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- Published Date
- 2014-10-07 13:16:38Z
- Last Review Date
- 2014-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2016-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Classification
- Beating Bowel Cancer,Bowel cancer,Bowel Cancer UK
Bowel cancer
Preventing bowel cancer
There are some things that increase your risk of bowel cancer that you can’t change, such as your family history or your age.
However, there are several ways you can lower your chances of developing the condition.
Diet
Research suggests that making changes to your diet can help reduce your risk of bowel cancer.
It may help to prevent bowel cancer if you eat:
- less cured and processed meat such as bacon, sausages and ham
- less red meat (see below) and more fish
- more fibre from cereals, beans, fruit and vegetables
The Department of Health advises people who eat more than 90 grams (cooked weight) of red and processed meat a day to cut down to 70 grams to help reduce their bowel cancer risk.
Read more about red meat and bowel cancer risk and eating good food and a healthy diet.
Exercise
There is strong evidence to suggest regular exercise can lower the risk of developing bowel and other cancers.
It is recommended adults exercise for at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (such as cycling or fast walking) every week.
Read more about health and fitness.
Healthy weight
Being overweight or obese increases your chances of developing bowel cancer, so you should try to maintain a healthy weight if you want to lower your risk
You can find out if you are a healthy weight by using the healthy weight calculator.
Changes to your diet and an increase in physical activities will help keep your weight under control.
Read more about losing weight.
Stop Smoking
If you smoke, stopping can reduce your risk of developing bowel and other cancers.
The free NHS Smoking Helpline can offer advice and encouragement to help you quit smoking. Call 0300 123 1044 or visit the NHS Smokefree website.
Your GP or pharmacist can also provide help, support and advice if you want to give up smoking.
Read more about stopping smoking.
Cut down on alcohol
Drinking alcohol has been linked to an increased risk of developing bowel cancer, so you may be able to reduce your risk by cutting down on the amount of alcohol you drink.
The current recommendations concerning alcohol are:
- men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units of alcohol a day
- women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day
- if you’ve had a heavy drinking session, avoid alcohol for 48 hours
Read more about alcohol units and tips on cutting down.
Bowel cancer screening
Although screening cannot stop you getting bowel cancer, it can allow the condition to be detected at an earlier stage, when it is much easier to treat.
As well as making lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of bowel cancer and keeping an eye out for possible symptoms of bowel cancer, participating in bowel cancer screening when it is offered can help reduce your chances of dying from bowel cancer.
In England, NHS bowel cancer screening is currently offered to everyone aged 60 to 74 who is registered with a GP.
Read more about bowel cancer screening.
Useful Links
- Published Date
- 2014-10-07 13:17:04Z
- Last Review Date
- 2014-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2016-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Classification
- Bowel cancer,Getting active,Stopping smoking,Weight management
Bowel cancer
Screening for bowel cancer
Bowel cancer can be present for a long time before any symptoms appear. If it’s detected before symptoms appear, it’s easier to treat and there’s a better chance of surviving the disease.
To detect cases of bowel cancer sooner, the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme was introduced in England in 2006. Men and women aged 60-69 registered with a GP will automatically be sent an invitation for screening through the post every two years.
The screening programme is also being extended in England to those aged 70 to 74. Screening centres in England are rolling out the extension once their two-year screening invites have completed.
Bowel cancer screening is also being carried out in the rest of the UK, but in Scotland people aged 50-74 are invited for screening.
People over 70 can also request a screening kit by calling the freephone helpline 0800 707 6060 (you’ll need your NHS number to hand).
Routine screening isn’t offered to people less than 60 years of age, so if you think you may be at an increased risk of bowel cancer and you are not yet eligible for screening, it may help to speak to your GP about your options and what you should be looking out for.
Screening consists of a home testing kit, called an FOBt (faecal occult blood test) kit. The kit arrives through the post when screening is due. The kit is used to collect tiny stool samples on a special card.
The card is then sealed in a special hygienic freepost envelope and sent to a laboratory where it will be checked for traces of blood that may not be visible to the naked eye, but may indicate a problem.
Results
Results are received in writing within two weeks of sending in the test kit. There are three types of result:
- Normal – when no blood was found in the samples. Screening will be offered again in two years’ time.
- Unclear – when there were possible traces of blood that could be caused by factors other than cancer, such as haemorrhoids (piles) or stomach ulcers. If you have an unclear result, you will be asked to repeat the test kit up to two more times.
- Abnormal – when blood was definitely found in the samples. Again, this could be due to something such as piles or bowel polyps. If you have an abnormal result, you will be offered an appointment with a specialist nurse to discuss having an examination of the bowel, called a colonoscopy (see below).
Only half of all bowel cancers are picked up by the screening test. The ones missed by the screening test cause symptoms at a later date. If you develop symptoms after a negative test, try the bowel cancer symptom checker to see whether you need to see your GP.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is an investigation of the lining of the large bowel (colon). A thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end (colonoscope) is passed into your rectum and guided around the bowel.
Only around two in every 100 people completing the FOBt kit will have an abnormal result and will be offered a colonoscopy. Of those who have a colonoscopy, only about one in 10 will have cancer.
New screening test
As well as the FOBt described above, an additional screening test is being rolled out by 2016. This involves inviting people at age 55 to have a one-off flexible sigmoidoscopy test to examine the lower bowel with a camera.
A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a similar test to a colonoscopy, although it cannot be used to see quite as far into the bowel. If the test shows polyps in your bowel, the person will then be offered a full colonoscopy (see above) to investigate further.
Both FOBt and flexible sigmoidoscopy screening tests have been shown to reduce the risk of dying of bowel cancer.
See diagnosing bowel cancer for more information about colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies.
Want to know more?
- NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme: bowel cancer screening: the facts (PDF, 5.4Mb)
- NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme: how to collect a bowel cancer screening sample (PDF, 374kb)
- Bowel Cancer Information: NHS screening programme
- Beating Bowel Cancer: screening
- Bowel Cancer UK: bowel cancer screening programmes
Useful Links
- Published Date
- 2014-10-07 13:17:20Z
- Last Review Date
- 2014-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2016-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Classification
- Blood in bowel motions,Bowel cancer,Colonoscopy
Bowel cancer
See what the doctor sees with Map of Medicine
The Map of Medicine is used by doctors throughout the NHS to determine the best treatment options for their patients. NHS Choices offers everyone in England exclusive and free access to this cutting-edge internet resource, which lets you see exactly what your doctor sees.
The information in the Map has been approved by the UK’s leading clinical experts, is based on the best available clinical evidence, and is continually updated. To take advantage of this unique resource go to:
Useful Links
- Published Date
- 2012-12-05 19:50:04Z
- Last Review Date
- 2009-11-06 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2011-11-06 00:00:00Z
- Classification
- Bowel cancer
Bowel cancer
Signs and symptoms of bowel cancer
The three main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in the stools (faeces), a change in bowel habit (such as to more frequent, looser stools) and abdominal (tummy) pain.
However, these symptoms are very common. Blood in the stools is usually caused by haemorrhoids (piles) and a change in bowel habit or abdominal pain is often due to something you have eaten.
In the UK, an estimated 7 million people have blood in the stools each year and even more people have temporary changes in bowel habit and abdominal pain.
Most people with these symptoms do not have bowel cancer.
As the vast majority of people with bowel cancer are over 60 years old, these symptoms are more important as people get older. They are also more significant when they persist in spite of simple treatments.
Most patients with bowel cancer present with one of the following symptom combinations:
- a persistent change in bowel habit, causing them to go to the toilet more often and pass looser stools, usually together with blood on or in their stools
- a persistent change in bowel habit without blood in their stools, but with abdominal pain
- blood in the stools without other haemorrhoid symptoms such as soreness, discomfort, pain, itching or a lump hanging down outside the back passage
- abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always provoked by eating, sometimes resulting in a reduction in the amount of food eaten and weight loss
The symptoms of bowel cancer can be subtle and don’t necessarily make you feel ill.
When to seek medical advice
Try the bowel cancer symptom checker for advice on what treatments you can try to see if your symptoms get better and when you should see your GP to discuss whether any tests are necessary.
Your doctor you will probably perform a simple examination of your tummy and bottom to make sure you have no lumps and a simple blood test to check for iron deficiency anaemia (as this can indicate whether there is any bleeding from your bowel you haven’t been aware of).
In some cases, your doctor may decide it is best to have a simple test in hospital to make sure there is no serious cause for your symptoms.
Make sure you return to your doctor if your symptoms persist or keep coming back after stopping treatment, regardless of their severity or your age.
Read more about diagnosing bowel cancer.
Bowel obstruction
In some cases, bowel cancer can stop digestive waste passing through the bowel. This is known as a bowel obstruction.
Symptoms of a bowel obstruction can include:
- severe abdominal pain, which may initially come and go
- not being able to pass stools when you go to the toilet
- noticeable swelling or bloating of the tummy
- vomiting
A bowel obstruction is a medical emergency. If you suspect your bowel is obstructed, you should see your GP quickly and if this isn’t possible go to the accident and emergency (A&E) department of your nearest hospital.
Want to know more?
- Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland: bowel cancer symptom checker
- Cancer Research UK: bowel cancer symptoms
- Macmillan: symptoms of colon and rectal cancer
- Beating Bowel Cancer: symptoms
- Bowel Cancer UK: symptoms of bowel cancer
- Bowel Cancer Information: key symptoms
Useful Links
- Published Date
- 2014-10-07 13:15:23Z
- Last Review Date
- 2014-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2016-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Classification
- Beating Bowel Cancer,Blood in bowel motions,Bowel cancer,Bowel Cancer UK
Bowel cancer
Treating bowel cancer
Surgery for colon cancer
If colon cancer is at a very early stage, it may be possible to remove just a small piece of the lining of the colon wall. This is known as local excision.
If the cancer spreads into muscles surrounding the colon, it will usually be necessary to remove an entire section of your colon. Removing some of the colon is known as a colectomy.
There are two ways a colectomy can be performed:
- an open colectomy – where the surgeon makes a large incision in your abdomen and removes a section of your colon
- a laparoscopic (‘keyhole’) colectomy – where the surgeon makes a number of small incisions in your abdomen and uses special instruments guided by a camera to remove a section of colon
During surgery, nearby lymph nodes are also removed. It is usual to join the ends of the bowel together after bowel cancer surgery, but very occasionally this is not possible and a stoma (see below) is needed.
Both open and laparoscopic colectomies are thought to be equally effective in removing cancer and have similar risks of complications. Laparoscopic colectomies, however, have the advantage of a faster recovery time and less post-operative pain and this is becoming the routine way of doing most of these operations.
Laparoscopic colectomies should be available in all hospitals carrying out bowel cancer surgery, although not all surgeons perform this type of surgery. Discuss your options with your surgeon to see if the laparoscopic method can be done.
Want to know more?
- Cancer Research UK: types of surgery for bowel cancer
- Beating Bowel Cancer: surgery
- Bowel Cancer Information: liver surgery video
Surgery for rectal cancer
There are a number of different types of operation that can be carried out to treat rectal cancer, depending on how far the cancer has spread.
Some of the main techniques used are described below.
Local resection
If you have a very small, early stage rectal cancer, your surgeon may be able to remove it in an operation called a local resection (trans anal resection).
The surgeon puts an endoscope (a flexible tube with a light) in through your back passage and removes the cancer from the wall of the rectum.
Total mesenteric excision
In many cases, however, a local resection is not possible. Instead, a larger area of the rectum will need to be removed, along with a border of rectal tissue around it that is free of cancer cells and fatty tissue from around the bowel (known as the mesentery). This type of operation is known as total mesenteric excision (TME).
Removing the mesentery can help ensure all the cancerous cells are removed, which can lower the risk of the cancer recurring at a later stage.
Depending on exactly where in your rectum the cancer is located, one of two main TME operations may be carried out. These are outlined below.
Low anterior resection
Low anterior resection is a procedure used to treat cases where the cancer is in the upper section of your rectum.
The surgeon will make an incision in your abdomen and remove the upper section of your rectum, as well as some surrounding tissue to make sure any lymph glands containing cancer cells are also removed.
They will then attach your colon to the lowest part of your rectum or upper part of the anal canal. Sometimes, they turn the end of the colon into an internal pouch to replace the rectum. You will probably require a temporary stoma (see below) to give the joined section of bowel time to heal.
Abdominoperineal resection
Abdominoperineal resection is used to treat cases where the cancer is in the lowest section of your rectum. In this case, it will be necessary to remove the whole of your rectum and surrounding muscles to reduce the risk of the cancer re-growing in the same area.
This involves removing and closing the anus and removing its sphincter muscles too, so there is no option except to have a permanent stoma after the operation. Bowel cancer surgeons always do their best to avoid giving people permanent stomas wherever possible.
Want to know more?
- Cancer Research UK: types of surgery for bowel cancer
- Beating Bowel Cancer: surgery
Stoma surgery
Where a section of the bowel is removed and the remaining bowel joined, the surgeon may sometimes decide to divert your stool away from the join to allow it to heal. The stool is temporarily diverted by bringing a loop of bowel out through the abdominal wall and attaching to the skin – this is called a stoma. A bag is worn over the stoma to collect the stool.
Where the stoma is made from small bowel (ileum) it is called an ileostomy and where it is made from large bowel (colon) it is called a colostomy.
A specialist nurse, known as a stoma care nurse, is usually available to advise you, prior to surgery, on the best site for a stoma. The nurse will take into account factors such as your body shape and lifestyle, although this may not be possible where surgery is performed in an emergency. During the first few days post surgery the stoma care nurse will advise on the care necessary to look after the stoma and the type of bag suitable.
Once the join in the bowel has safely healed, which can take several weeks, the stoma can be closed during further surgery. In some people, for various reasons, re-joining the bowel may not be possible or may lead to problems controlling bowel function and therefore the stoma may become permanent.
Before having surgery, the care team will advise whether it may be necessary to form an ileostomy or colostomy and the likelihood of this being temporary or permanent.
For anyone wishing to obtain further information about living with a stoma, there are patient support groups which provide support for patients who may have just had or are due to have, a stoma. You can obtain details through your stoma care nurse or visit them online for further information.
These include:
- Ileostomy and Internal Pouch Support Group – this organisation provides a unique visiting service for anyone wishing to speak with someone who has been through similar surgery
- The Colostomy Association
Want to know more?
- Cancer Research: coping with a stoma after bowel cancer
Side effects of surgery
Bowel cancer operations carry many of the same risks as other major operations, including the risks of bleeding, infection, developing blood clots or heart or breathing problems.
The operations all carry a number of risks specific to the procedure.
One risk is that the joined up section of bowel may not heal properly and may leak inside your abdomen. This is usually only a risk in the first few days after the operation.
Another risk is for people having rectal cancer surgery. The nerves controlling passing urine and sexual function are very close to the rectum, and sometimes an operation to remove a rectal cancer can damage these nerves.
After rectal cancer surgery most people need to go to the toilet to open their bowels more often than before, although it usually settles down within a few months of the operation.
Radiotherapy
There are two main ways that radiotherapy can be used to treat bowel cancer. It can be given before surgery to shrink rectal cancers and increase the chances of complete removal, or used to control symptoms and slow the spread of cancer in advanced cases (called palliative radiotherapy).
Radiotherapy given before surgery for rectal cancer can be performed in two ways:
- external radiotherapy – where a machine is used to beam high-energy waves at your rectum to kill cancerous cells
- internal radiotherapy (also known as brachytherapy) – where a radioactive tube is inserted into your anus and placed next to the cancer to shrink it
External radiotherapy is usually given daily, five days a week, with a break at the weekend. Depending on the size of your tumour, you may need one to five weeks of treatment. Each session of radiotherapy is short and will only last for 10-15 minutes.
Internal radiotherapy can usually be performed in one session before surgery is carried out a few weeks later.
Palliative radiotherapy is usually given in short, daily sessions, with a course ranging from two to three days to 10 days.
Short-term side effects of radiotherapy can include:
- feeling sick
- fatigue
- diarrhoea
- burning and irritation of the skin around the rectum and pelvis (this looks and feels like sunburn)
- a frequent need to urinate
- a burning sensation when passing urine
These side effects should pass once the course of radiotherapy has finished. Tell your care team if the side effects of treatment become particularly troublesome. Additional treatments are often available to help you cope better with the side effects.
Long-term side effects of radiotherapy can include:
- a more frequent need to pass urine or stools
- blood in your urine and stools
- infertility
- in men, erectile dysfunction
If you want to have children, it may be possible to store a sample of your sperm or eggs before treatment begins so they can be used in fertility treatments in the future.
Want to know more?
- NICE: pre-operative brachytherapy for rectal cancer
- Bowel Cancer UK: radiotherapy for bowel cancer
- Cancer Research UK: radiotherapy for bowel cancer
- Macmillan: radiotherapy for rectal cancer
Chemotherapy
There are three ways chemotherapy can be used to treat bowel cancer. It can be given before surgery for rectal cancer in combination with radiotherapy to shrink a tumour, after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer recurring, or to slow the spread of advanced bowel cancer and help control symptoms (palliative chemotherapy).
Chemotherapy for bowel cancer usually involves taking a combination of medications that kill cancer cells. They can be given as a tablet (oral chemotherapy), through a drip in your arm (intravenous chemotherapy), or as a combination of both. Treatment is given in courses (cycles) each two to three weeks long, depending on the stage or grade of your cancer.
A single session of intravenous chemotherapy can last from several hours to several days.
Most people having oral chemotherapy take tablets over the course of two weeks before having a break from treatment for another week.
A course of chemotherapy can last up to six months depending on how well you respond to the treatment. In some cases it can be given in smaller doses over longer periods of time (maintenance chemotherapy).
Side effects of chemotherapy can include:
- fatigue
- feeling sick
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- mouth ulcers
- hair loss with certain treatment regimens, but this is generally uncommon in the treatment of bowel cancer
- a sensation of numbness, tingling or burning in your hands, feet and neck
These side effects should gradually pass once your treatment has finished.
It usually takes a few months for your hair to grow back if you experience hair loss.
Chemotherapy can also weaken your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infection. Inform your care team or GP as soon as possible if you experience possible signs of an infection, including a high temperature (fever) or a sudden feeling of being generally unwell.
Medications used in chemotherapy can cause temporary damage to men’s sperm and women’s eggs. This means that for women who become pregnant or for men who father a child, there is a risk to the unborn baby’s health. Therefore, it is recommended you use a reliable method of contraception while having chemotherapy treatment and for a period after your treatment has finished.
Want to know more?
- Beating Bowel Cancer: chemotherapy
Biological treatments
Biological treatments, including cetuximab, bevacizumab and panitumumab, are a newer type of medication also known as monoclonal antibodies.
Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies that have been genetically engineered in a laboratory. They target special proteins found on the surface of cancer cells, known as epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR). As EGFRs help the cancer to grow, targeting these proteins can help shrink tumours and improve the effect and outcome of chemotherapy.
Biological treatments are therefore usually used in combination with chemotherapy when the cancer has spread beyond the bowel (metastatic bowel cancer).
These treatments are not available to everyone with bowel cancer. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has determined specific criteria which need to be met before they can be prescribed.
Cetuximab is only available on the NHS when:
- surgery to remove the cancer in the colon or rectum has been carried out or is possible
- bowel cancer has spread to the liver and cannot be removed surgically
- a person is fit enough to undergo surgery to remove the cancer from the liver if this becomes possible after treatment with cetuximab
Cetuximab, bevacizumab and panitumumab are available on the NHS through a government scheme called Cancer Drugs Fund. All these medications are also available privately but are very expensive.
Want to know more?
Useful Links
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- Published Date
- 2014-10-07 13:16:19Z
- Last Review Date
- 2014-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Next Review Date
- 2016-09-01 00:00:00Z
- Classification
- Beating Bowel Cancer,Bowel cancer,Bowel Cancer UK,Bowel surgery,Brachytherapy,Cancer and tumours,Cancer specialists,Chemotherapy,Colostomy,Crohn's disease,Gut,Ileostomy,Large intestine,National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence,Radiotherapists,Radiotherapy,Rectum,Small intestine,Ulcerative colitis