Bowel cancer can be affected environmental, lifestyle and genetic risk factors. These may include:
Inflammatory bowel problems
Family or personal history of polyps and colorectal cancer
Lack of exercise
Excessive consumption of alcohol and smoking
Obesity and diabetes
Improper diet
Age (above 50 years old)
How to prevent Bowel cancer
The risk of Bowel cancer is possible to reduce with the following measures:
Have a balanced diet that involves plenty of fruits and vegetables every day
Include more fibre-rich items in your diet
Drink lots of water
Stay proactive and exercise regularly
Maintain a healthy body weight
Limit the consumption of alcohol
Reduce consumption of processed and red meat
Quit smoking
Diagnosis
Diagnosis for bowel cancer starts with physical exam to extensive screening:
Colonoscopy-A check of the large bowel length by inserting a camera through the anus and into the large bowel.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy-To assesses the lower colon and rectum for unusual tissues.
MRI- It collects cross-sectional pictures enabling the doctors detect any tumours inside the body.
CT scans-It provides 3D images of the organs to check the bowel system.
Faecal immunochemical test (FIT) for the National Bowel Screening Programme
In the UK, this test is a common routine test for bowel cancer in the older population. The kit includes a tube with stick attached to the lid to collect stool sample which is then placed back in the tube. This sample is then sent to a lab for testing.
Treatment for Bowel cancer
Surgery- Primarily, a doctor will perform surgery to remove the cancerous cells.
Radiotherapy-. Sometimes, the combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy is carried out to destroy the cancer cells.
Chemotherapy- Sometimes, chemotherapy is given post-surgeryreduce the risk of recurrence of the cancer.