Help beat bowel cancer! Don’t dismiss your symptoms

Tara Beecher M.Pharm (read time 1.5 minutes)

Number twos, we all do them but no one likes talking about them. It’s time to talk about what goes on behind that toilet door!  

Bowel cancer is the second most deadly cancer, after lung cancer. With early detection, 90% of cases can be treated successfully. Sadly, fewer than 40% of all bowel cancer cases are detected early. For this reason, if you have any changes in bowel habits you should seek advice from a health care professional. 

Symptoms of bowel cancer can include; a recent and persistent change in bowel habits, change in shape or appearance of your bowel motion, abdominal pain or swelling, blood in your stool and unexplained anaemia causing tiredness. Unfortunately, bowel cancer and many other common gastrointestinal conditions exhibit similar symptoms. 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one condition that may display symptoms to bowel cancer and affects as many as one in five people at some point in their life. Triggers for patients who suffer from IBS can include infection, food intolerance, diet, stress and some times medications. Patients that experience any changes in bowel habits should not assume it is their IBS and seek assistance to eliminate any other potential diagnosis. 

It is also a common misconception that bowel cancer is an “old person’s” disease. This is not always the case! Statistics of younger Australians having bowel cancer are on the rise. Approximately 1 in 11 Australians that are diagnosed with bowel cancer is under the age of 50. 

Screening for bowel cancer is easy and can be done in your own home!  Good Price Pharmacy stock a simple to use at home bowel screening test kit. The purchase price includes the test kit, return postage and pathology services. Following the analysis, the results are returned to yourself and your GP. 

Nearly 55% of bowel cancer cases may be attributable to lifestyle risk factors. This means you can do something to help decrease your bowel cancer risk. Simple ways to decrease your risks of bowel cancer can include:

• Reduce alcohol consumption to less than two drinks a day
• Avoiding weight gain
• Include dairy products or calcium supplementation in your diet
• Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity every day
• Reduce red meat intake
• Quit smoking
• Consume more whole grains and dietary fibres.

Good Price Pharmacy supports Bowel Cancer Awareness month. Keep an eye out for our team members wearing their awareness ribbons throughout June.