While no type of cancer is completely preventable, there is good news as regards bowel cancer: According to Cancer Research UK, more than half of all bowel cancer cases can be prevented by simple precautions such as regular screenings and an awareness of possible signs and symptoms of bowel cancer that can help detect the condition as early as possible.

Read on and find out about the different types of bowel cancer, its possible symptoms, risk factors that could lead to it, how it is diagnosed, as well as what treatment options there are.

If you or a loved one suspects they might have bowel cancer, or if you’re looking for support after a diagnosis, we would also like to invite you to join us for free at Carecircle.org. Carecircle.org is a new breed of social network focused on health and providing its members with help, hope, and control in dealing with their own medical conditions.

What is bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer, often also called colorectal cancer, is a general term for any type of cancer that develops in the large intestine (large bowel). Without further definition, it can either refer to colon or rectal cancer.

Bowel cancer is the third most common form of cancer diagnosed worldwide, and occurrence rates have only slightly decreased since the 1990s. However, thanks to advances in medicine and screening methods, as well as an increased awareness for early signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer, the mortality rate for patients with bowel cancer has gone significantly down since then. And the general prospect is rather positive, with a 53% survival rate for 10 or more years after the diagnosis.

Types of bowel cancer

Depending on where in the large bowel the cancer starts – the colon or rectum –, bowel or colorectal cancer will either be classified as colon cancer or rectal cancer. Colon cancer is much more common than rectal cancer, while both types show similar prospects for patients in terms of treatability and survivability.

Colon Cancer

Colon cancer starts in the colon, the main part of the bowel, which is almost five feet long and responsible for absorbing water and nutrients from the food we consume. Colon cancer is the more common type of bowel/colorectal cancer.

Rectal Cancer

Rectal cancer is the less common of the two types of colorectal or bowel cancer and describes all forms of cancer that start in the rectum, an 8-inch-long tube that connects the colon to the anus.

What causes bowel cancer?

There are a number of causes and risk factors that can contribute to bowel cancer. The most common among them are:

• inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease
• a diet that’s low in fibre and high in fat
• excessive consumption of red and/or processed meat
• a family or personal history of bowel cancer
• being overweight or obese
• smoking
• drinking alcohol
• a sedentary lifestyle/lack of exercise
• a higher age
• exposure to radiation, such as during x-rays or radiotherapy to treat other types of cancer

Furthermore, most cases of colorectal cancer are preceded by polyps in the bowel that grow cancerous over time, often in the course of ten years or more. It is therefore important to get regular bowel screenings to identify existing polyps so they can be treated before they turn into cancer.

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What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?

Depending on the stage and location of the bowel cancer, symptoms can vary greatly. One out of ten patients will, however, experience one of the following symptoms:

• A change in bowel habit that doesn’t go away. This could include more frequent pooing, runnier poo, or diarrhoea.
• Blood in the stool. Signs of this are bright red clots on/in the poo, bloody smears on the toilet paper after pooing, or dark, blackish stool.
• Frequent tummy aches, cramps, discomfort, bloating, or gas after meals.

Other possible symptoms include:

• anal or rectal pain
• lumps in the anus or rectum
• inexplicable weight loss
• persistent tiredness/fatigue
• anaemia, resulting in pale skin, being out of breath easily, and/or weakness
• blood in the urine (often shows as dark or brownish urine)
• having to pee unusually often
• constipation or bowel obstruction
• spreading of cancer to other regions, most commonly the liver

All these symptoms usually increase in later stages of bowel cancer, whereas patients in the early stages of bowel cancer often don’t experience any noticeable symptoms at all. It is therefore all the more important to schedule regular bowel screenings, especially if you’re over the age of 45.

How to diagnose bowel cancer?

If you suspect you might have bowel cancer, your doctor will first ask you a series of questions about your bowel habit, your family history regarding cancer, pre-existing conditions such as Crohn’s disease, and whether you’re experiencing frequent pain, bloating, or other persistent symptoms that could point to colorectal cancer.

They will then typically check your anus, rectum, and tummy to see if there are any noticeable lumps or other signs that you may have cancer. Lastly, they might take stool and blood samples to test for blood in the stool and anaemia.

If those examinations suggest it could be bowel cancer or if the results are unclear, your doctor will then transfer you to a hospital for a colonoscopy – an examination of your colon by means of a thin tube with a camera inserted through your anus – or a CT scan of your bowel to check for polyps or cancerous growths.

What to do if you have bowel cancer?

If you’ve been diagnosed with bowel cancer, swift treatment is crucial. Depending on how early bowel cancer is detected, there is a chance for it to be completely cured. Even if that isn’t possible, however, the prospects for bowel cancer patients are typically good in terms of long-term survivability.

If you’re looking to share your experiences with fellow patients facing the same challenges, you can always do so on carecircle.org. Our friendly, free community about all things health and healing is the perfect place to find help, control, and support in dealing with your or a loved one’s bowel cancer diagnosis. Or to give hope to others by telling the story of how you found your way back to health.

What’s the treatment for bowel cancer?

Depending on the type, location, and stage of the cancer there are several possible ways to treat bowel cancer.

Whenever possible, the cancerous tissue will be removed by means of surgery, often in combination with other treatment methods such as chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. If the cancer is detected early enough, surgery may cure bowel cancer completely and stop it from coming back.

If complete removal is not or no longer possible, the focus lies on controlling the symptoms and slowing down the spread through a combination of treatments, such as immunotherapy and pain medication.

Bowel cancer FAQs

FAQ time! Here are quick answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about bowel/colorectal cancer:

What’s the survival rate of bowel cancer?

The general outlook for colon cancer patients is rather positive. If detected early enough, there are good chances the cancer may be cured completely and stopped from coming back. Generally speaking, more than half the people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are still alive ten or more years later.

Does bowel cancer show up in blood tests?

Bowel cancer itself usually won’t show up in blood tests. There are, however, markers that can be found in blood tests, such as low iron levels or red blood cell counts, that may point to bowel cancer.

Where is bowel cancer pain felt?

Pain in the entire abdomen/tummy area as well as around the anus and in the rectum is possible. If cancer has spread, pain in other areas is possible as well.

How long does it take for bowel cancer to spread?

Typically, bowel cancer tends to grow and spread slowly, often taking years before doing so. There is, however, no set timeframe or guarantee that it won’t spread much faster, which is why diagnosing and treating it as soon as possible is crucial. Bowel cancer most commonly spreads to the liver.

Is bowel cancer curable?

If detected early enough, there are good chances bowel cancer can be cured completely and stopped from coming back.

Is bowel cancer hereditary?

While not exactly hereditary, a family history of bowel cancer indeed does increase the risk for bowel cancer.

If you would like to be part of a global community for health, where you can post, comment, or react to other people facing the same challenges as you, and where your voice truly matters, join us at Carecircle.org. Signing up is easy and free.

Bowel cancer Resources

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/
• https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer
• https://www.haveigotbowelcancer.com/
• https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/getting-diagnosed/tests

Whether you’ve just experienced the first potential symptoms of bowel cancer or are already dealing with its diagnosis, we hope our comprehensive guide could help you find hope and control in dealing with the condition. Should you suspect you might have undiagnosed colorectal cancer, please see your doctor as soon as possible. We wish you all the best in facing your personal health challenges.

Guide Sources

• National Health Service UK – Bowel Cancer
• Cancer Research UK – Bowel Cancer Statistics
• Cancer Research UK – Bowel Cancer Survival
• Cancer.org – Bowel Cancer
• World Cancer Research Fund International