Go with your gut
RADIO 1 DJ Adele Roberts took to Instagram to reveal she’d been diagnosed with bowel cancer and last week had a tumour removed.
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, according to charity Bowel Cancer UK, with more than 42,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
Most occur in older age groups: 94% of people diagnosed are aged 50-plus and 59% are over 70 – but it can happen at any age. It is treatable though, and as former I’m A Celebrity... and Big Brother contestant Adele, 42, says in her post: “Early detection can save your life”.
Explaining her own diagnosis, she wrote: “For a while I’ve been struggling with my digestion. Thanks to a conversation with my dad a few years back I went to my GP for a check-up. I was embarrassed but I knew it could be something serious.
“I assumed it might be food sensitivity. I was sent for examinations – then diagnosed with bowel cancer...”
Adele is urging everyone to “PLEASE make sure you get checked out if you have ANY concerns”.
As BBC DJ Adele Roberts is diagnosed with bowel cancer, ABI JACKSON reveals the warning signs you should never ignore What are the main symptoms?
“It can be easy to dismiss symptoms, and people often put different bowel movements or bloating down to stuff they eat or changes as they get older.
“However, delaying getting help can really put people at risk – like many cancers, if caught early enough bowel cancer is curable,” says Elizabeth Rogers, associate clinical director and GP at Bupa UK.
“If you notice any blood in your poo, changes to your bowel movement, bloating or abdominal pain after eating, see your GP as soon as possible. Don’t put it off, early diagnosis really does save lives. Other symptoms include unexplained weight loss and extreme tiredness.”
Keep an eye on changes
Some people have more daily bowel while other go a lot less frequently – always get things checked if you notice changes that are unusual for you.
“I always advise people to ‘CUP for cancer’ – to check for a ‘Change that is Unexplained or Persistent’.”
What if you have a history of dodgy digestive symptoms?
Digestive issues are extremely common and don’t always mean bowel cancer. They can occur due to conditions like IBS, food intolerances and inflammatory bowel disorders.
This can make it tricky to know when to go back to your doctor, especially if you’ve been living with gut issues for a long time. However, Elizabeth says it’s still important to “see your GP” if you notice any of the changes outlined above. If anything seems unusual, different, or is causing concern, go get it checked.
Are some people at higher risk?
Elizabeth says bowel cancer is “rare before age 40” but some people may be at higher risk, including “if you have a family history of bowel canmovements cer, have an inherited bowel condition such as familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, also known as Lynch syndrome”.
People with long-term inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, or who have non-cancerous growths (polyps or adenomas) may also be more at risk.
Obesity, smoking, a diet lacking in fibre and/or high in processed and red meats, and too much alcohol can also be associated with higher rates of bowel cancer.