Bowel cancer occurs when the cells in your bowel become abnormal and grow in an uncontrolled way. The exact cause of bowel cancer isn't known, but it's thought to be down to your genes and what you eat and drink – especially red meat, alcohol and processed meat – as well as how much exercise you do and if you're overweight or obese.
It can sometimes develop from polyps in your bowel that are usually harmless but can turn cancerous if they don't get treated, so if you're over 50, make sure you speak to your GP about how often you should have a bowel screening test.
What are your risk factors?
Most bowel cancers are caused by a combination of two things: age and family history. If you’re over 60, and your father or mother had bowel cancer at a relatively young age (before their 80s), then your risk is high.
In general, if one of your parents had bowel cancer before their 70th birthday, then your risk is 1 in 16. If both parents had it, it’s 1 in 11. Also, if you have a history of any digestive tract cancers – such as colorectal or stomach – then your risk for developing another type of GI tumor goes up further than average.
How can you prevent the disease?
Although bowel cancer is typically associated with men, it does affect women too. In fact, about 1 in 8 cases of bowel cancer occur in women. The fact that it can be so difficult to detect also makes it a disease that many people know little about - which could lead to false assumptions and preconceptions regarding whether or not they are at risk of developing it.
In order to fight against these pre-judgements and spread awareness for what happens if you do get bowel cancer, here's everything you need to know about bowel cancer - including how common it is among women and what exactly constitutes as a symptom.
Are there ways to ease symptoms?
Bowel Cancer UK says anyone who is concerned about their bowel movements should speak to their GP. Bowel cancer is treatable and can be cured if it's caught early, so getting it checked out will give you a much better chance of survival.
Speak to your doctor if you have any concerns about your bowel movements and make sure to mention them at your next check-up. If there are changes that worry you, don’t be embarrassed to ask questions or bring it up—it’s important that doctors know what’s going on with your body, even if it seems trivial or unimportant.
How do you know if you need to see a doctor?
The first line of defense against any health issue is yourself. Listening to your body and understanding its signs can help you tackle minor health issues, talk to family and friends about your health, and you may even be able to avoid a trip to the doctor altogether.
This is especially true when the situation is mild, such as when you have an upset stomach or a mild headache. If the problem is temporary or mild, it might be possible to wait out the symptoms until they subside or until a time when you have time to see a doctor.