According to the World Cancer Research Fund, as of 2018, bowel cancer (also referred to as colorectal cancer) continues to be the third most common cancer worldwide, after lung and breast cancer (1).
Both Australia and the United States have high rates of bowel cancer in the world, with the World Health Organization putting the cumulative risk of developing colorectal cancer at 4.1% in Australia and New Zealand, compared to 2.96% in North America. In addition, bowel cancer is the second-most-common cancer in Australia, with around 17,000 Australians, the majority of them aged over 50, being diagnosed with the disease each year.
Fortunately, a recent Australian study has discovered an effective way to help curb rates. According to new research, early detection and bowel cancer screening can help reduce almost half of bowel-cancer-related deaths.
The study
Polyps are benign growths in the colon that start with normal colon tissue. Unfortunately, they grow larger and become cancerous. Early screening for bowel cancer helps to detect and remove these polyps.
According to data published in the BMC Cancer Journal, researchers from UniSA’s Cancer Epidemiology and Population Health found that screenings play a key role in catching the disease before symptoms appear. This is important as the majority of people who develop colorectal cancer experience no symptoms during the early stages.
The results
The study featured 12,906 bowel cancer patients. 37% of this group of patients had had pre-diagnostic colonoscopies. Additionally, this same group also faced an increased likelihood of living longer.
A fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) with a follow-up colonoscopy was associated with a 17% reduction in cancer deaths. There was also a 27% reduction was associated with two pre-diagnostic colonoscopy procedures. Also, there was a 45% reduction was linked to three or more.
The importance of screenings
In Australia, the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program makes sure to mail free bowel cancer screening tests to all Australians, aged 50 to 74, every two years.
The kit contains all the necessary tools for each person to effectively obtain their stool sample. They will then send the sample to scientists who will then examine the stool for traces of blood. Traces of blood in stool samples can be a sign of bowel cancer. Whilst seeming effective, it’s unfortunate to find that only a small percentage of Australians do the test.
“Yet, currently only around four in 10 eligible Australians complete the home bowel cancer screening test when it arrives in the mail. Cancer Council research has shown that if this figure was increased to just six in 10, around 84,000 lives could be saved in the next 20 years,” explained Cancer Council Australia CEO Sanchia Aranda in a statement, following a $10 million pledge by the Australian Federal Government to Cancer Council Australia in hopes of helping to encourage more Australians to screen for bowel cancer.
It should be noted that screening isn’t just limited to bowel cancer as screening can also help to prevent and manage other types of cancer that include breast, lung, and prostate cancers (2).
Reducing your risk of bowel cancer
According to a report from The Lancet journal, over 25% of cancers worldwide are caused by lifestyle factors, thus reducing your risk of developing the disease is rooted in evaluating your lifestyle choices.
Cut back on red and processed meat
According to a study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, there is a strong link between the intake of red and processed meat with an increased risk of bowel cancer. The study included almost 500 000 people. It found that people who ate red or processed meat four or more times a week were facing a 20% higher risk of colorectal cancer than those who indulged less than twice a week.
It’s best to swap your intake of sausages, bacon, and ham with free-range, organic chicken, and salmon.
Eat a diet rich in antioxidants and fiber
As the bowels play such a pivotal role in digestion, it should surprise no one to find that a high-fiber diet has been associated with a reduced risk of bowel cancer (3). Additionally, fiber intake has also been associated with an increased survival rate.
Foods rich in fiber include fruits such as berries, vegetables, beans, as well as lentils, and whole-grains.
Maintain a healthy body weight
According to research published in the Bioscience Reports journal, obesity – particularly abdominal obesity (or belly fat) – is strongly linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer.
If you want to maintain healthy body weight, it’s important to become more active and clean up your diet.
Know your family history
Genetics plays a role in one’s risk of bowel cancer. Therefore, it’s important to study your family history and find out your potential risk for the disease.
Quit smoking
Smoking doesn’t just cause lung cancer. Rather, it causes cancer of the stomach, bowel, liver, pancreas, mouth, and eight other debilitating disorders.
That said, it’s important to quit the toxic habit before it completely destroys your health.
Stay active
According to a meta-analysis published in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology, staying active can help to both prevent bowel cancer and improve the negative effects of the disease and its treatment.
Five days out of the week, it’s important to try to do at least an hour of moderate activity. On the other hand, you can opt for 30 minutes of vigorous activity.
If you feel that this may be a little too much at first, start small. This includes taking the stairs instead of the lift, and even doing squats at your desk.
Lastly – watch your bowels
Keeping an eye out for your bowel movements can help you detect bowel cancer early. Symptoms to look out for include diarrhea, constipation, and blood in the stools. Additional symptoms also include bloating, rectal pain, and a lump around the rectal area. Therefore, it’s important to consult your doctor if you begin to experience any or all of the above-mentioned symptoms.
Want to know more?
According to the World Health Organization, cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, killing around 9 million people in 2018. That said, there exist habits linked to the disease that one would never expect. Click here for more.
