Occupational Health Service
Health Promotion News: Issue No: 06 / 2012
April 2012 is Bowel Cancer
Awareness Month
Bowel Cancer
Bowel cancer is a general term that is used to describe cancer that begins in the large bowel.
Depending on where in the bowel the cancer starts, bowel cancer can sometimes be referred to as
colon cancer, or rectal cancer.
How common is bowel cancer?
Around 1,000 new cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed in Northern Ireland each year. Bowel
cancer is more common in older people, with around 80% of bowel cancers occurring in people
aged 60 or over.
Signs and symptoms of bowel cancer
The initial symptoms of bowel cancer include:
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blood in your stools (faeces) and/or bleeding from your rectum;
a change to your normal bowel habits that persists for more than six weeks, such as
diarrhoea, constipation, or passing stools more frequently than usual;
abdominal pain,
unexplained weight loss.
As bowel cancer progresses, it can sometimes cause bleeding inside the bowel which eventually
will mean that your body will not have enough red blood cells. This is known as anaemia.
Symptoms of anaemia include fatigue and breathlessness.
In some cases, bowel cancer can cause an obstruction in the bowel.
obstruction include:
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Symptoms of a bowel
a feeling of bloating, usually around the navel (belly button);
abdominal pain;
constipation,
vomiting.
You should always contact your GP as soon as possible if you experience any of these symptoms.
Reducing Your Risk of Bowel Cancer
Research has shown you can take important steps to reduce your risk of bowel cancer:
Eat a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and cereals (at least 5 portions a day).
Eat less fat.
Reduce the amount of red and processed meat you eat.
Keep alcohol consumption within sensible limits.
Stop smoking.
Avoid being overweight.
Be aware of your normal bowel habits.
Exercise regularly.
Participate in a bowel cancer screening programme if invited by GP.
Bowel cancer screening in Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Programme offers screening every two years to all
men and women aged 60 to 69 (upper age limit to rise to 71 from April 2012). People in this age
group will automatically be sent an invitation and a screening kit so they can do the test at home.
Your GP will provide your contact details so it is important that he or she has your correct name
and address. After your first screening test you will be sent another invitation and screening kit
every two years for as long as you remain within the screening age group.
The test is done in the privacy of your own home. The screening kit provides a simple way for you
to collect a very small sample of your bowel motion (stools) onto a special card. A detailed
instruction leaflet ‘Bowel cancer screening – how to take the test’ is available to show you how
to take the test. Once you have collected a sample, the card is placed in a special envelope and
posted to the screening laboratory. It is safe to send in the post. You may think that doing the test
sounds a bit embarrassing or unpleasant but it will only take a few minutes. If you have any
questions about the test kit, call the Freephone Helpline number: 0800 015 2514.
References
nidirect government services: http://www.nidirect.gov.uk
HSC/Public Health Agency: http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/
Ulster Cancer Foundation: http://www.ulstercancer.org
More useful links
http://www.nicsohs.gov.uk
http://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk
Bowel cancer website
Action Cancer website
Marie Curie website
Ulster Cancer Foundation website
Macmillan Cancer Support website
Cancer Research website
The Northern Ireland Civil Service
Occupational Health Service
Centre for Workplace Health Improvement
Lincoln Building
27-45 Great Victoria Street
BELFAST BT2 7SH
Tel:
Fax:
email:
web:
(028) 9025 1888
(028) 9025 1539
clientservices@nicsohs.gov.uk
www.nicsohs.gov.uk