Awareness is Key /
Bowel cancer. The silent killer that we don’t talk about.
The silent killer we don’t talk about, bowel cancer
The Ministry of Health defines bowel cancer, also known as colon, rectal or colorectal cancer, as ‘a malignant growth that develops inside the bowel’. It is our second highest cause of cancer death in New Zealand and compared to the rest of the world, our statistics are high. Yet talking about this, well, it’s not common practice when we get together with friends.
Awareness is key to bringing about behavioural change which goes hand in hand with prevention – ultimately the best cure. Interestingly enough because we don’t talk about our toilet habits, we are generally in the dark about this type of cancer, its causes, and what we can do to prevent it.
As with many chronic diseases there are both non-genetic (modifiable) and genetic risk factors. The latter identifies high-risk individuals as those with a family history of bowel cancer over two or three generations; a close family member under 55 years of age who has had bowel cancer; or if there is a genetic bowel cancer syndrome within the family. If you have a history of inflammatory bowel disease you are also high-risk.
It is a good idea to be physically active, drink alcohol in moderation, not be overweight, be mindful of your red meat consumption, not smoke, and increase fruit and vegetable consumption. Despite an evidence base of what causes bowel cancer, awareness of these modifiable lifestyle factors for disease prevention is low, especially compared to other diseases such as heart disease.
Screening is another form of prevention. A screening programme has been implemented recently in New Zealand for those aged 60–74 years. Every two years a free bowel screening kit is sent to those eligible and measures faecal occult blood which can be an early warning sign. For this to be successful, it also depends upon awareness and promotion to the public – people will then be more likely to participate.
For the rest of us, be mindful of changes in bowel habits such as diarrhoea or constipation that last longer than a few days. Other symptoms that may be a cause for concern include: a feeling of incomplete evacuation after a bowel movement, any blood in the stool or rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, tiredness, and/or unexplained weight loss.
If you are in doubt about any bowelrelated symptoms, discuss these with your local general practitioner who can provide you with a referral to see a gastroenterologist. Keep in mind, if caught early, bowel cancer is one of the easiest cancers to cure.
Kate Davidson has a Bachelor of Consumer Applied Sciences majoring in Human Nutrition, a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning majoring in Home Economics and Health Education, and a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her life’s purpose is helping people improve their health and wellbeing so they can live their best lives. She currently practises Chinese medicine, creativeacupuncture.com Medical Disclaimer: This column is not intended as medical advice but rather to provide information for educational purposes. Consult with your GP or other medical professional regarding the applicability of any of the information provided. References available on request.