On Air Archive

“Colorectal” and “large bowel” are terms you may hear used when discussing the bowel.

The bowel is divided into four sections:

ascending
transverse
descending
sigmoid.

The bowel has no digestive function, but it absorbs large amounts of water and electrolytes, which help the maintenance of the body’s systems, known as homeostasis. Undigested food is passed on from the small bowel to the large bowel where water is re-absorbed.

Cancer occurs when cells in your bowel multiply out of control. These cells can invade surrounding tissue and spread to other parts of the body.

Most bowel cancers develop from polyps which are usually non-cancerous and, once detected, can be removed easily if caught early enough.

Symptoms
The symptoms of bowel (colorectal) cancer can be:

- A change in your normal bowel habit lasting four weeks or more
- Bleeding from the bottom and/or blood in your stools (poo)
- Extreme tiredness without obvious cause
- A pain and/or lump in your abdomen (belly)
- It is important to remember that most symptoms do not necessarily indicate bowel cancer.
- If you are worried about any symptoms that you think might be caused by bowel cancer, make an appointment with your GP or call the Bowel Cancer UK Advisory Service on 0800 8 40 35 40 or email advisory@bowelcanceruk.org.uk

Who is at Risk?
Although the exact cause of bowel cancer is unknown, there are certain factors that increase your risk

Gender and Age
Bowel cancer affects both men and women. 85% of all diagnoses are in people over the age of 60

Family history
People with a family history of bowel cancer are often diagnosed before the age of 45, so may need early screening

Diet and lifestyle
An inactive lifestyle and a low fibre diet can increase the risk of bowel cancer. Red and processed meat, insufficient amounts of fruit and vegetables, smoking and excess alcohol are contributory factors

Inflammatory bowel disease
People with a history of Crohn’s disease in the large bowel, or ulcerative colitis, or who have had previous polyps removed, may also be at an increased risk

Reducing Your Risk
A few simple lifestyle changes can help you to reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer

Get to know your bowel pattern, so that you know what's normal for you

Keep to a healthy weight, through regular exercise

Drink plenty of fluids: water, in particular

Eat a diet high in fibre, including at least five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables every day

Limit your consumption of red and processed meat to a maximum of one portion (approximately 80g) per day

Keep alcohol consumption to the recommended maximum of 14 units per week for women and 21 for men

Avoid saturated fats and increase unsaturated fats

Know the symptoms of bowel cancer

Don't smoke

Be aware of your bowel cancer family history. You may be eligible for screening if you have a history

Treatments 
The treatments for bowel or rectal cancer are different and you will have many options to consider. Your specialist nurse or consultant will discuss these with you.

The surgeon will tell you which part of the bowel is affected and what operation will be necessary. They will also answer any questions you or your family may have, and will arrange a date for the operation.

In some cases, surgery alone will be enough to remove the cancer and prevent it from returning. However, you may require neo-adjuvant (prior to surgery) or adjuvant (after surgery) treatment in the form of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and/or biological agents.

Following surgery, you may be referred to an oncologist who is a doctor specialising in cancer treatments and care. Any further treatments will be discussed between the oncologist and the members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) who are managing your care. Your specialist will explain what your options are.

For more information please contact Bowel Cancer UK on either www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk or on 0800 8 40 35 40