Cancer is among the most deadly of diseases that keep the medical community on tenterhooks. There are some types of cancer like lung or breast cancer but another variant that deserves mention is Bowel cancer or colorectal cancer. In countries like UK , it is the third most prevalent variant of cancer. Incidentally, it can be treated in the cases of early detection. As evident from its name, bowel cancer infects the bottom area of the human digestive system, the rectum and the large bowel. Both women and men can be its victim though women are more at risk of contracting it than men. It usually occurs to people past their 40’s.

Causes of Bowel Cancer

What leads to the disease is yet to be discovered but it is assumed that genetics can be one of the reasons. If someone in your family was diagnosed with Bowel cancer then it would be a good idea for you to consult your doctor regarding genetic screening to ascertain your degree of vulnerability to the ailment.

This disease is mostly associated with ones mature years; however, in some cases people may develop it in their early 40’s. One such instance is Bobby Moore, who was a victim of this disease and died when he was 51. If a person has the track record of suffering from previous inflammatory bowel ailments, his chances of contracting this cancer can increase.

Preventive Measures of Bowel Cancer

As a matter of fact, one’s diet plays a significant role in preventing the occurrence of Bowel cancer. If a person adheres to a low-fiber and high fat diet, and is obese in addition to that, his risk grows manifold in this context. It would be advisable to stick to a high fiber and carbohydrate rich diet.

It is generally believed that consuming different types of fruits and vegetables everyday helps a person to keep several types of cancers at bay. The doctors say that the antioxidant minerals and vitamins of the fruits play a major role in combating cancer. According to a theory, doing moderate exercises everyday also helps protect a person against bowel cancer.

Bowel Cancer Symptoms

The symptoms can resemble common digestive and lower abdominal problems like irritable bowel syndrome and piles. The most prominent symptom is blood spots in stools. An alteration in one’s usual bowel habits like diarrhea and constipation that assumes a severe form may also hint at this disease. People suffering from Bowel cancer may experience sudden weight loss. As a result of bleeding in the bowel, some patients may feel breathlessness, fatigue etc because of contracting anemia.

Bowel Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis

For diagnosing Bowel cancer a rectal examination can be done by the doctor for detecting any swelling or lump in the rectal passage. After diagnosis the doctor may prescribe for treatment in a hospital. A patient suffering from this ailment may have to undergo a number of tests like sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. In both the methods the condition of the rectal passage and bowel of a patient is video taped.

If the diagnosis points to cancer then the stage of the tumor will be detected. This is done to assess the spread and growth of the tumor. This in turn helps in planning the treatment. Among the main methods of treating bowel cancers, surgery is the most widely used one. Generally, the infected bowel part holding the tumor is removed and the open ends are fused. Another operation is done in some cases where the bowel needs to be brought out piercing the abdominal wall. It is known as stoma.

Like the other types of cancer, radiotherapy and chemotherapy is also used to treat cases of bowel cancer. It is done after surgery particularly with complicated tumors. It is known to increase the survival rate to some extent. The overall survival rate has improved in recent times. If the cancer is detected before it reaches the liver, the recovery chances go up to as high as 80 percent.