About bowel cancer

What is Bowel Cancer?

Bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) is the second leading cause of cancer and cancer-related deaths for men and women in Tasmania.

Bowel cancer is a cancerous growth that develops on the lining of the bowel wall. Most bowel cancers develop from polyps which are small, non-cancerous growths. Polyps often look like a cherry on a stalk.

Many people have polyps, the majority of which are non-cancerous. However, if left untreated polyps can grow and become cancerous over time. Later stages of bowel cancer can result in the disease spreading to other sites in the body (known as metastases).

Bowel cancer can be present for many years before a person shows symptoms. These may include:

• Diarrhoea (watery poo)
• Constipation (difficulty doing a poo)
• Seeing blood in the toilet or on the toilet paper after doing a poo
• Pain in your abdomen, or
• Noticing you are feeling tired or losing weight for no reason.

Fortunately, screening for bowel cancer can detect non-visible bleeding in your poo to indicate early changes in your bowel. A colonoscopy can then be performed to find and remove polyps in the early stage and stop them developing into bowel cancer.

If you have any symptoms or a persistent change to your bowel habit, don’t wait to receive your screening kit in the mail, you should promptly speak with your GP.

Risk factors

The risk of bowel cancer is greater for those who:

• Are aged 50 years and over
• Smoke
• Eat high amounts of red or processed meats
• Have a high level of alcohol consumption
• Are overweight or obese
• Have a personal history of polyps or adenomas (pre-cancerous polyps)
• Have an underlying bowel condition such as inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. Crohn’s disease or chronic ulcerative colitis)
• Have a family history of bowel cancer or polyps

A person’s risk based on family history depends on how many close relatives have bowel cancer and their age at diagnosis. Most people who develop bowel cancer have had no family members with the disease, however, all family history should be discussed with your doctor to ensure appropriate management.

It is recommended that you discuss your individual risk of bowel cancer with your doctor to determine the management strategy that is right for you.

Reducing your risk

To help reduce your risk of bowel cancer:

1. Eat Well, Be Active:

• Maintain a healthy body weight
• Aim for 30-60 minutes of moderate physical activity each day
• Aim for a diet that is high in fibre
• Limit your intake of red and processed meats
• Avoid or limit alcohol

2. Quit smoking -

Phone the Quitline 13 QUIT (13 78 48).

3. Do your free bowel screening test every two years when you receive it in the mail.

Doing your bowel screening test every two years is the best way to prevent bowel cancer or find it early, when over 90% of cases can be successfully treated.

For more information

Call the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program on 1800 118 868, or view their Frequently Asked Questions.

Call the Tasmanian Bowel Cancer Prevention Program on 03 6166 8970 or email [email protected]

Learn more about reducing your risk of bowel cancer and the importance of bowel cancer screening by arranging an information session for your workplace or community group: email us at [email protected].