Bowel cancer: Your questions answered
PODCAST host Deborah James’ fund to raise money for research into bowel cancer has reached more than £6 million and counting after she announced she’s receiving end-of-life care.
The much-loved presenter of the BBC podcast You, Me And The Big C revealed in an Instagram post that, while they have “tried everything”, her body simply is not “playing ball”.
The 40-year-old campaigner, who set up Bowelbabe Fund, was made a dame this month, and Prince William visited her at her parents’ home to present the honour.
Since her diagnosis in 2016, Deborah has shared candid Instagram posts on her progress and videos showing her dancing her way through treatment. Her positivity has been truly inspirational.
The mum-of-two has always tried to encourage other people not to delay getting any symptoms checked out. Here’s everything you need to know about bowel cancer, its warning signs and treatment.
How common is bowel cancer?
Dr Lisa Wilde, director of research and external affairs at Bowel Cancer UK, says: “Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer, affecting both men and women. Every 15 minutes someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer, which is nearly 43,000 people every year.”
What are the main symptoms?
“Persistent and unexplained changes in your bowel habits – you may notice that you need to poo more frequently and your stools are looser,” says Dr Nikki Ramskill, GP at the digital healthcare provider, Livi. What’s normal for you might be abnormal for someone else.
Noticing blood in your poo or coming from your bottom is another sign, “Often it is dark red or brown in colour,” she says.
While “unexplained weight loss; extreme tiredness for no obvious reason; a pain or lump in your tummy” are other warning signs adds Dr Wilde.
In some cases bowel cancer can stop digestive waste passing though the bowel. “This is a medical emergency and you should seek urgent medical care,” warns Dr Ramskill. Signs of this happening include sickness with constant swelling around your abdomen and abdominal pain brought on by eating.
Could the symptoms mean something else?
Quite possibly, but it’s so important to find out what’s causing any of these signs.
“Having these symptoms does not always mean you have bowel cancer – they can often be a sign of other common conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), an infection, or inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis,” says Dr
Ramskill.
What will happen at the GP appointment?
It’s a good idea to keep a symptoms diary ahead of your appointment to discuss with the doctor. “On the day, your doctor may want to examine your tummy and bottom to check for any lumps.
“You may also be asked to take a blood test – this will check for an iron deficiency which can be a sign of bowel cancer,” says Dr Ramskill. “In some cases, you may also be required to provide a stool sample, this is so that your poo can be checked for blood – another symptom of bowel cancer.”
How treatable is it?
“Bowel cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early,” says Dr Wilde. “Nearly
If you’ve ever found yourself Googling phrases like ‘foods to make me lose weight’ or ‘how to lose weight fast’, you may have stumbled across some questionable tips out there.
When it comes to food and nutrition – especially in the context of weight loss – there are lots of weird diets that promise specific ‘results’. However, these dramatic dietary claims can have a seriously negative impact on both your mental and physical wellbeing and rob you of crucial nutrition.
We asked a few experts to talk us through four of the most common diet claims...
1. No carbs after 6pm
According to Lola Biggs, registered dietician at Together Health (togetherhealth.co.uk),
“it’s more about what you are eating, and how much of it, rather than when you are eating it. There’s nothing wrong with eating healthy carbs after 6pm, if you choose foods such as nuts, seeds, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains”.
That said, some experts do think eating within a timeframe or window can be beneficial, and eating too close to bedtime might not be the best idea.
Pauline Cox, functional nutritionist at Wiley’s Finest (wileysfinest.co.uk), explains that “eating within an eight-hour window gives your body the chance to lower blood glucose levels outside of that eight-hour window, lowering insulin and increasing glucagon levels, triggering fat-burning”.
2. Gluten-free food aids weight loss
You may have noticed the rise in gluten-free options and people opting for a no-gluten diet. This is great news for anybody with coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity, who need to steer clear of gluten for health reasons.
Where it can get muddled, though, is when people imply gluten-free options are just ‘better’ than their gluten-packed counterparts and that gluten-free diets aid weight loss.
“Getting enough heart-healthy wholegrains in your diet is important, as they can lower cholesterol levels and are good sources of key vitamins and minerals such as iron, magnesium, and B vitamins,” says Lola.
3. Full-fat is bad for you
Have you been attracted to ‘fat-free’ labels on cheese or yoghurts at the supermarket? Well, consuming fat does not necessarily make you fat. And fat-free does not necessarily mean something is healthier.
“Too much fat in your diet – the saturated fats kind – can be bad for you, but there are some full-fat foods that can be good for you,” says Lola. “Low-fat versions can often be stuffed with artificial sweeteners, flavouring and sugars to improve the taste.”
4. Certain foods can help you burn fat
Maybe you’ve been chugging apple cider vinegar, eating grapefruit early in the morning, or cooking everything in cayenne pepper because you’ve heard these things will make you burn fat. Again, it’s not that black and white.
Certain foods or ingredients will not automatically make you thinner, and you may find yourself eating some strange things if you think this is the answer.
According to Melissa Snover, registered nutritionist and founder of Nourished (get-nourished.com), it is more important to focus on feeling full and satisfied, and getting a good range of vitamins.
“Nutritious foods high in protein and good fats are beneficial for offsetting hunger over long periods, which is an important tool for weight loss, as it lowers your overall food intake,” she says.