The bowel is the long 'tube' that absorbs water and nutrients from food and processes waste products into faeces. It includes the small bowel, colon and rectum.
Bowel cancer usually begins in the lining of the colon or rectum. If untreated, it spreads deeper into the wall of the bowel. From there, it can spread to lymph nodes in the area. Later, bowel cancer can spread to the liver or lungs.
 Blood or mucus in the faeces. |
| An unexpected change in bowel habit. (for example, diarrhoea or constipation for no obvious reason) |
| General discomfort in the abdomen. (feelings of bloating, fullness and/or cramps) |
| Constant tiredness. |
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Weakness and paleness. |
| Getting older - bowel cancer more commonly affects people over the age of 50. |
| Inheriting one of two uncommon genetic disorders: familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer. (HNPCC) |
| A personal or strong family history of bowel cancer. |
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Having ulcerative colitis (inflamed colon lining) for more than eight to 10 years. |
Bowel cancer screening is now accessible to Victorians aged 50, 55, and 65 years of age. The screening test that is used is called the faecal occult blood test (FOBT).
This is a simple test for the early signs of bowel cancer. It involves taking tiny samples from two or three bowel motions using a test kit. The samples are collected at home and then sent to a laboratory for testing.
To find out more about bowel screening, contact The Cancer Council Victoria, Cancer Helpline
Ph. 131 120.
 Rectal examination. |
| Sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy. |
| Barium enema. |
| X-ray, ultrasound, rectal ultrasound, CT scan or MRI scan. |
| Blood tests, including a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test - CEA is produced in high quantities by some cancer cells, especially in bowel cancer. |
| Stage A - the cancer is confined to the bowel wall. |
| Stage B - the cancer has spread to the outer surface of the bowel wall. |
| Stage C - cancer is found in lymph nodes near the bowel. |
| Stage D - cancer is found at distant sites: for example, in the liver or lungs. |
Another staging system being used more often is called the TNM system. It records how far the tumour (T) has spread through the bowel wall, if lymph nodes (N) are affected by the cancer and whether the cancer has spread (metastasised) to other parts of the body (M).
Ask your doctor to explain the stage of your cancer in a way you can understand. This will help you to choose the best treatment for your situation.
The surgeon removes the section of the bowel affected by cancer and then joins the two ends. A stoma (an opening of the bowel onto the abdomen) is sometimes made during the surgery. Your bowel motions will come through the stoma into a bag. Stomas are usually temporary, while the bowel heals, but some people have them permanently. Many people find this difficult to deal with. You will be given a lot of education and support about having a stoma.
Chemotherapy or radiotherapy is nearly always used in addition to surgery.
All treatments have side effects. These will vary depending on the type of treatment you are having. Many side effects are temporary but some may be permanent. Your doctor will explain all the possible side effects before your treatment begins.
 Where and how far the cancer has spread. |
| What treatment you have had in the past. |
| The type of bowel cancer you have. |
Eating a healthy diet, including plenty of vegetables and fruit and only small amounts of animal fat. Maintaining a healthy body weight. Exercising regularly. Not smoking. Your local doctor. Colorectal specialist. The Cancer Council Victoria, Cancer Helpline Ph. 131 120| Most bowel cancers diagnosed at an early stage are curable. |
| If you are at risk of bowel cancer, discuss with your doctor whether you need to have regular tests. |
PP Graham Cocks
Rotary Club of Bright
Ph: (03) 5755 1404
Fx: (03) 5755 2304
e-mail: bowelscan@rotary9790.org.au
