Bowel Cancer
Uploaded by mumsa1 on Jan 24, 2012
Bowel cancer can occur at any age, but it can be treated if diagnosed in its early stages.
In this article:
What is bowel cancer?
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Effect on your life
Treatment
Advice & Support
What is Bowel Cancer?
Cancer is a disease where abnormal cells in the body begin to grow, divide and reproduce in an uncontrollable way. These abnormal cells then invade and destroy healthy tissue, including organs.
The third most common cancer in the UK, bowel cancer (cancer of the bowel, also sometimes referred to as colorectal cancer) develops where the large intestine becomes cancerous – a lump develops in the lining of the bowel.
Symptoms
Symptoms of bowel cancer include:
Bleeding from your cancerous tumour (apparent in your faeces/stools where it is also accompanied with a mucus)
Greater or less frequency of bowel movements
Diarrhoea-like motions and/or constipation
A feeling of bowel movement incompleteness after going to the toilet (leading you to feel you may have to go again shortly afterwards)
Abdominal pains (stomach cramps – usually as a result of a cancer-caused colon blockage. This blockage can also trigger nausea and vomiting.)
Feeling generally unwell
Spasms of breathlessness
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Causes
Despite in-depth medical research worldwide, the exact cause of bowel cancer has not yet not been established. However it is suggested that you may have in an increased risk of bowel cancer if:
A genetic predisposition to developing bowel cancer is confirmed
You are suffering from another intestinal-related condition, such as ulcerative colitis
You have an unhealthy lifestyle – the combination of a poor diet with a lack of exercise
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of bowel cancer can be based upon an individual’s symptoms, physical examination results and screening test results.
If you are suffering from the aforementioned symptoms and suspect that you may have bowel cancer, arrange an appointment with your GP. After taking your medical history (and asking you about your family history with regard to health), they will ask you some questions about your symptoms and then carry out a physical examination. If they think that you may have developed bowel cancer then you will be referred to a specialist for tests in order to establish a confirmed diagnosis.
Effect on your life
Being diagnosed with bowel cancer can be extremely traumatic. However, through consultations with trained cancer healthcare professionals you will be encouraged to ask any questions, even if you fear they may seem trivial to someone else. Bowel cancer nurses are trained and attuned to responding to your questions. They will also...