Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in both men and women. And while research means survival is improving, the rates of people being diagnosed with the disease are also rising. A whole range of factors play into this, not least the fact that more people in the UK are living to an older age when cancer is more common. There isn’t much anyone can do about getting older, but we also know that more than half of bowel cancer cases are linked to lifestyle factors – which are much more within our control.
Making small changes to our day-to-day lives can make a big difference to the risk of developing bowel cancer. Read on to find out how, and share our graphic on social media to help spread the word this month.
1. Eat more fresh chicken, fish and meat-free meals
People who eat a diet low in processed and red meat are less likely to develop bowel cancer. Around one in five cases of bowel cancer in the UK are linked to eating too much processed and red meat. Although researchers aren’t sure exactly why this is, the main culprits appear to be certain chemicals in the meat itself.
While a bacon sandwich every now and then isn’t going to do much harm, if you’re eating a lot of processed and red meat then it’s a good idea to try to cut down. Try swapping it for fresh chicken and fish, bulking out meals with beans and vegetables to use smaller portions of meat, or choosing meat-free meals like vegetable lasagnes, curries and pasta bakes.
If you need ideas, Change4life has a great range of healthier recipes.
2. Keep a healthy weight
Keeping a healthy weight not only cuts your risk of bowel cancer, but could also reduce your risk of nine other types of cancer too. Researchers think this is because excess fat in our bodies can change our hormone levels and produce chemical messengers, which in turn can increase cancer risk.
But crash diets probably won’t help people lose weight in the long term. The best way to lose weight (and keep it off for good) is by making small changes to your daily life that you can stick to – like cutting down on sugary drinks, keeping an eye on food labels, and walking more.
Our website has more tips on how to keep a healthy weight, or visit Change4life.
3. Eat more fibre
Eating a diet high in fibre helps reduce the risk of bowel cancer in a number of ways. And one of the main ones seems to be by helping food pass through your body more quickly.
Fruit, vegetables, beans and lentils are all great sources of fibre, as well as whole grain varieties of bread, pasta and cereals. Meals don’t need to get fancy to get in more fibre. Think beans on wholemeal toast, brown pasta rather than white, and beans and peas in casseroles.
4. Drink less alcohol
We’re not saying you have to go tee-total, but it’s important to know the less you drink the lower your risk (it’s not just heavy drinking that’s linked to cancer).
So if you are going to drink alcohol, stick to the guidelines – that’s a maximum of 14 units of alcohol a week, spread evenly over at least three days. Drink free days are a good way to cut down on the total amount of alcohol you drink. Also try choosing smaller servings, drinks with lower ABVs – or cutting down on the alcohol in your drink by making it a shandy or wine spritzer.
Read this blog post to find out more about the guidelines and how many units are in different drinks. And visit our website for more tips on how to cut down on alcohol.
5. Be smokefree
Smoking doesn’t just cause lung cancer. It causes at least 13 other types of cancer (including bowel) as well as heart disease and various lung diseases. Chemicals in cigarette smoke enter the bloodstream and can affect the entire body – and it’s these that have been shown to damage our DNA and lead to cancer.
If you smoke and you want to quit, you’re much more likely to quit successfully if you get professional support rather than going it alone. There’s a whole range of free services to help keep you on track, including prescription medication and different types of support.
Speak to your GP or pharmacist, or visit NHS Smokefree for free advice and support.
6. Be active
Keeping active has a wide range of benefits for the body, including reducing the risk of bowel cancer. This is through helping food move through the bowel more quickly, as well as controlling inflammation.
It can be easier than you think to be more active, even if you don’t do much at the moment. Aim to do at least two and a half hours of moderate activity (e.g. brisk walking) a week – it may sound like a lot but you don’t need to do it all in one go – that’s just over 20 minutes each day. Build up how active you are over time. Try walking part of the way to work, and taking the stairs rather than the escalator or lift.
The more active you are, the greater the benefits you can gain – but remember it’s never too late to start.
And if you notice something unusual, talk to your doctor
Although it won’t strictly reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer, we couldn’t write this post without mentioning early diagnosis. Bowel cancer can develop at any age, but more than eight in 10 cases are diagnosed in people aged 60 and over, so this is especially important advice for older people.
When bowel cancer is diagnosed in the early stages, before it’s had time to get too big or spread, more than nine in 10 people will survive for at least five years. But when it’s found at a later stage, there may be fewer options to try to cure it, so the chances of survival are lower.
Get to know what’s normal for you, and tell your GP if you see blood in your poo, or about any change to your bowel habit – such as looser poo, pooing more often, and/or constipation – pain or a lump in your tummy, or losing weight without any reason. All of these are likely to be caused by something much less serious than bowel cancer, but it’s best to get them or any other unusual changes checked out by your GP.
Bowel cancer screening is for healthy people, without any signs or symptoms of the disease. If you’ve noticed something unusual, whatever your screening history, you should see your GP.
In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, bowel screening tests are offered to people aged 60-74 every two years. In Scotland it’s offered from the age of 50. If you’re registered with a GP this test is sent automatically to your home in the post.
Unfortunately, the number of people taking up their bowel screening invitation is not as high as it could be. So we’re encouraging more people to consider taking part. We’re running campaigns in parts of the UK to see if using posters, letters, and kits to help people do the test more easily can make a difference by breaking down barriers to participation.
Small changes can make a big difference
Making changes doesn’t have to mean a massive overhaul of your lifestyle – if it’s something you do most days, even a small change can add up to a big difference.
And remember, if you do spot anything that’s unusual for you, it’s worth going to your GP to get it checked out. And if a bowel screening kit pops through your letter box, taking part is easier than you think.
Casey Dunlop is a health information officer at Cancer Research UK
Comments
Brian Johnson April 7, 2016
Different people respond in different ways. All the six points are helpful in their own ways but the key idea, I think, is moderation in all things! The most important point stated is ‘and if you notice something unusual, talk to your doctor’. I did just this (haemorrhoids) 15 years ago, was diagnosed with early stage bowel cancer and am here to tell the tale!
Aaron April 7, 2016
David and Michelle – you can do things to make cancer less LIKELY, but there are no known ways to prevent it 100%. This article is just helping people to make it less likely that they get cancer!
Paul April 7, 2016
Why is there a fish icon, on the graphic for red meat? Do you mean red fish as well?
Mark April 7, 2016
David
They can’t. The article addresses known risk factors that they estimate could help prevent half of the cases of bowel cancer, so half would still happen even if we all took their advice. There are still other risk factors needing to be found and more work to be done to have a chance of preventing every case or at least spotting it early but reducing by half is a good start.
Angela Lauder April 7, 2016
More knowledge like this is very helpful. I think it’s people having confidence to go to the doctors early. And the doctors being sensitive on any cancer systems.
Mrs D. J. Clay April 7, 2016
Very interesting and helpful information , although I’ve had cancer twice I’m very aware of the dangers
David April 7, 2016
my brother in law has just had a bowel cancer operated on, thankfully they got it all.
but hes been a veggie all his life so he dont eat meat hes a healthy weight etc.. only thing is on this list he drinks alcohol within reason, so explain why he go it?
Elaine Anderson April 7, 2016
The advice on reducing bowel cancer is very difficult to follow if you are also type 2 diabetic as most of the alternative foods recommended are a no-no. Beans and pulses, for example, make my sugar levels rocket.
James April 7, 2016
Michelle (April 6th), I think you misunderstand the point of this article, which aims to highlight important risk factors associated with bowel cancer. The article does not purport to be an exhaustive list of all risk factors, or claim that addressing these highlighted risk factors will definitively prevent bowel cancer in everyone.
Michelle April 6, 2016
What rubbish, I weigh 10 stone and I am 5’9″ I have never smoked or drank an eat a high fibre low fat low meat diet, I walk the dog for 90 mins per day on top of a,9 hour shift on my feet all day but I was still told in Jan this year I had a tumour
By the way I am 52 and I had breast cancer 5 years ago so all of your stereo typing is rubish
Dennis Bates April 6, 2016
This article is well organised, clearly written and potentially very valuable to people who are concerned about this dangerous and quite common form of cancer. It is also balanced in that it makes clear that most of the symptoms taken individually may have other causes. The tone is positive not alarmist.
Christine Magasiner April 6, 2016
This article has been helpful to me. I am 81, my husband is 91. We are relatively healthy as far as we know, but we do eat processed meat on a daily basis in our lunchtime sandwiches. I think we are going to change the habit. Tough, as we love ham.
A Hunt April 7, 2016
First thing I noticed was a fish picture on the “Eat less processed and red meat” advice balloon chart ….better to show sausages etc surely when we are encouraged to eat more FISH I see Paul said this too. What about some chat on keeping body less acidic too ! A Hospital nurse knew nothing about this, yet I have read much on this and it’s another way of showing how over sugar intake needs major alteration..