What is bowel cancer?

The bowel is another name for the intestines. It is part of our digestive system and is divided into 2 parts.

The small bowel and the large bowel. The large bowel is made up of the colon, the rectum and anus.

Bowel cancer develops when normal cells change and grow in an abnormal and uncontrolled way. These abnormal cells can form a lump or tumour.

Bowel cancer is sometimes called colorectal cancer as most bowel tumours are found in the colon or rectum.

Bowel cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in Ireland. Although it is more common in people over 50, it can happen in younger people too.

It can usually be treated successfully if it is found early.

The symptoms of bowel cancer may include: A lasting change in your bowel habit such as going more often – having diarrhoea or constipation. Blood in your poo or bleeding from your back passage. You may have pain or discomfort in your tummy area or back passage. Trapped wind or fullness in your tummy. You may notice a lump in your tummy area or rectum. Or a feeling you have not emptied your bowel fully after a motion. You may also notice unexplained weight loss. Or feel very tired or fatigued.

Spotting cancer early is important. If you have any symptoms or changes in your body that are unusual for you, it is important to have them checked by your doctor.

If you have symptoms, your doctor may: Ask you to provide a poo sample to check for any hidden blood. May examine your back passage to feel for any lumps or swelling. Or may refer you to hospital for a test called a colonoscopy.

A colonoscopy involves passing a thin tube with a light and camera into your bowel through your back passage to look for anything abnormal.

A sample of cells, also called a biopsy may be taken to see if the cells are cancerous or not.

If you are diagnosed with bowel cancer, you may have: Surgery to remove the tumour. Chemotherapy, which are drugs to cure or control the cancer. Radiotherapy, which uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. Or you may have targeted or immunotherapy drugs that target certain parts of the cancer cells. Sometimes a combination of these treatments are given to treat bowel cancer.

We don't know the exact cause of bowel cancer but there are factors that can increase our risk, some of which include: Being older. Having a family history of bowel cancer. Or having an inherited bowel condition.

Other risk factors include: Our lifestyle choices, such as having a poor diet, being overweight, not being active, drinking alcohol to excess and smoking.

To help to reduce our risk of bowel cancer we should have a healthy diet, limit red meat and processed meats, and eat more fibre and whole grains. Be a healthy weight, be active with regular exercise, try to limit our alcohol intake and don't smoke.

We should also get screened. Screening can find bowel cancer before symptoms develop. The national bowel screening programme in Ireland is called BowelScreen. BowelScreen delivers a free home test kit to people aged 59 to 69 every 2 years. You send back a small sample of your poo, which is tested for traces of blood. If there is blood in the sample, it doesn't mean that you have cancer, but you may be advised to have a colonoscopy.

Spotting cancer early is important. Learn what to look for and check your body for changes. Talk to your doctor if you notice anything unusual for you.

For more information about bowel cancer, go to our website cancer.ie/bowel

You can also call our Support Line free of charge and talk to one of our cancer nurses on 1800 200 700

Or you can email our cancer nurses on the Support Line at: supportline@irishcancer.ie