JUNE was bowel cancer awareness month and a great opportunity for Swan Hill District Health’s Cancer services to remind people that now is a great time to complete your national bowel screening test.
If you are between the ages of 50-74, you should receive a test in the mail every two years.
Bowel screening is important as bowel cancer can often develop without any symptoms in the early stages and 99 per cent of bowel cancer cases can be treated successfully if found early.
For those under the age of 50 who have a family member with bowel cancer, you can be at a moderately increased risk so it is important to discuss screening with your GP.
Do you know the symptoms of bowel cancer?
Whilst screening for bowel cancer is important, it is just as important to know any symptoms that could be related to bowel cancer. Any of the below symptoms could be indicative of colon or rectal cancer and should be investigated by your GP if they persist for more than two weeks.
Every year, more than 1500 young Australians are diagnosed with bowel cancer.
It is a common misconception that bowel cancer is “an old person’s disease”, but the reality is that you should never be told that you are too young to have bowel cancer. Whilst the majority of bowel cancer cases occur in people aged 50 years and over, around one in 10 (10 per cent) Australians diagnosed with bowel cancer are under the age of 50.
Never2Young is an initiative of Bowel Cancer Australia, providing resources uniquely designed for younger people. Helping younger Australians to better understand their bowel cancer risk and to take appropriate action, raise awareness and receive support that is tailored to the needs of young patients.
Bowel cancer awareness is so important, as during the early stages of bowel cancer many people have no symptoms, which is why screening is so important.
Diet and lifestyle choices, as well as screening and surveillance, can influence your bowel cancer risk.
US research (published 2021) indicates up to 34 per cent of bowel cancer cases may be prevented by a healthy lifestyle, increasing to 61 per cent when combined with sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy screening.
Having one or more risk factors does not always mean that you will get bowel cancer, and some people who are diagnosed with bowel cancer may not have any known risk factors.
There are a number of factors that can increase a person’s bowel cancer risk and some of these can be modified, those risk factors that can be changed.
Decrease bowel cancer risk through wholegrains, dairy products and calcium supplements, physical activity and screening.
Increase bowel cancer risk red and processed meat, body fatness, smoking and alcohol.
As we’ve learnt, being young does not make you immune to bowel cancer.
No-one knows your body better than you, so listen to it and if something isn’t right, speak to your GP as soon as possible.
If caught in time, almost 99 per cent of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated.
For more information, or if you are concerned about bowel cancer or any changes in your bowel habits, discuss with your GP or for more information head to bowelcanceraustralia.org https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/
GO DRY THIS JULY
THIS month marks Dry July, an opportunity to “go dry in July”, by going alcohol-free for the whole month to raise funds to create a better life for people affected by cancer.
The fundraising efforts for the event in past years have allowed The Dry July Foundation to help local and national cancer support organisation across Australia deliver practical, tangible support services for people affected by cancer.
Everything funded benefits cancer patients, their families and their carers aiming to make a difficult time for many, a little easier.
Most of us have been touched by cancer at some stage. Why not contribute where you can by staying dry this July.
Head to their website for more information and to sign up, www.dryjuly.com.
