Home
Bupa members

Support and offers for individual members and customers

Bowel cancer Q&As

Published by Bupa's health information team, November 2008.

Answers to questions about bowel cancer

This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.

 

Why is the number of people being diagnosed with bowel cancer increasing?

It's thought that the number of people being diagnosed with bowel cancer is increasing because people are now living longer (bowel cancer is more likely the older you get) and because people generally have less active, unhealthier lifestyles.

Explanation

As you get older, your risk of developing bowel cancer increases. People are now living longer than ever, and it's thought that this ageing population is one of the reasons why there are more people with bowel cancer. Almost 99 percent of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are over the age of 40, and 85 percent are over the age of 60.

Other lifestyle and environmental factors also contribute to the increasing number of people being diagnosed with bowel cancer. There are a much higher number of cases of the disease in affluent countries than in less developed countries. This is thought to be related to lifestyle factors such as obesity and an unhealthy diet. People in affluent, developed countries generally eat a lot more processed meats and less fruit and vegetables. They are also usually less active. This type of unhealthy, inactive lifestyle can lead to bowel cancer.

To reduce your risk of getting bowel cancer, there are simple lifestyle and diet changes that you can make.

  • Exercise for at least 30 minutes, five times a week.
  • Eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables every day.
  • Cut down on the amount of processed and red meat you eat.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Eat foods high in fibre such as wholegrain bread, cereals and pasta.

If you have any questions or concerns about bowel cancer, talk to your GP.

Further information

Sources

  • Ballinger AB, Anggiansah C. Clinical Review: colorectal cancer. BMJ 2007; 335:715-718
  • Simon C, Everitt H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007:468-469
back to top

Why are people with bowel conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis at a higher risk of developing bowel cancer?

Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are thought to cause prolonged damage to your bowel over a long period of time which could result in bowel cancer.

Explanation

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are both chronic diseases that cause your bowel to become inflamed. A chronic illness is one that lasts a long time, sometimes for the rest of the affected person's life. The term chronic refers to time, not how serious a condition is.

It's thought that over time the damage caused to the lining of your bowel increases the risk of cancerous cells developing. If you have had Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and it has affected your entire bowel for more than eight years or affected the left side of your bowel for more than 15 years, then you are at risk of bowel cancer. It has been estimated that one percent of all bowel cancers are due to ulcerative colitis.

It's recommended that people who have these conditions, and are at risk of bowel cancer, should be screened regularly. If you have had your condition for between 10 and 20 years, it's recommended that you should be screened every three years. When you have had it for between 20 and 30 years this will be increased to every two years. After 30 years you will be screened every year.

Screening involves having a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy allows your doctor to look inside your large bowel using a thin tube with a tiny light and camera at the end. This type of screening means that if you do develop bowel cancer, it can be detected and treated early.

If you have any questions about Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or bowel cancer, talk to your GP or doctor.

Further information

Sources

  • High risk groups for bowel cancer. Cancer Research UK. www.cancerhelp.org.uk, accessed 19 August 2008
  • Ballinger AB, Anggiansah C. Clinical Review: colorectal cancer. BMJ, 2007. 335:715-718
  • British Society of Gastroenterology. Guidelines for colorectal cancer screening in high risk groups. Gut 2002; 51:1-28
back to top

Can calcium help reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer?

Possibly. Research has suggested that people who have more calcium in their diet are less likely to develop polyps in the bowel. These polyps may lead to the development of bowel cancer.

Explanation

Calcium is an important part of your diet. It helps build strong bones and teeth, regulates your muscle contractions (including your heartbeat) and makes sure your blood clots normally. More recently, research had suggested that it may also help prevent certain cancers, including bowel cancer.

Studies have found that people who have high amounts of calcium in their diet may be less likely to develop bowel cancer than those who have little calcium in their diet. On average, adults need about 700mg of calcium per day. The research found that taking 1200mg of calcium supplements a day helps to prevent polyps (growths) developing in your large bowel. These polyps are dangerous because over time they can change and become cancerous.

So far, these findings have only shown that calcium supplements may contribute to the prevention of bowel polyps. More research needs to be done to establish whether increasing calcium in your diet prevents bowel cancer.

It's important to make sure that you are getting enough calcium in your diet to keep you healthy and prevent long-term health conditions such as osteoporosis (thin bones) in later life. This applies especially in young women. Good sources of calcium include milk, cheese and other dairy products, green leafy vegetables (such as broccoli), soya products, nuts and anything made with fortified flour. Increasing the amount of calcium in your diet is relatively simple: half a pint of semi-skimmed milk contains almost 350mg of calcium, a medium-sized portion of cheddar cheese (40g) contains nearly 300mg, and a couple of slices of granary bread can contain up to 150mg.

At this stage, it is too early to say whether extra calcium in your diet will help protect against bowel cancer. However, there is evidence to show that taking the following steps will reduce your risk.

  • Exercise for at least 30 minutes, five times a week.
  • Eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables every day.
  • Cut down on the amount of processed and red meat you eat.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Eat foods high in fibre such as wholegrain bread, cereals and pasta.
  • If you smoke, try to quit.

If you have any questions or concerns about diet and bowel cancer, talk to your GP.

Further information

Sources

  • Weingarten MA, Zalmanovici A, Yaphe J. Dietary calcium supplementation for preventing colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2008(1)
  • Calcium. Food Standards Agency. www.eatwell.gov.uk, accessed 21 August 2008
  • Food Standards Agency. McCance and Widdowson's the Composition of Foods: Summary Edition. 6th ed. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2002
back to top

What is the difference between a colostomy and an ileostomy?

A colostomy and ileostomy are both surgical procedures that involve bringing part of your bowel to your abdomen wall to create an artificial opening (stoma). The difference between them is in the part of the bowel that the stoma joins: a colostomy is when your large bowel is joined to the opening, whereas an ileostomy is when your small bowel is joined to the opening.

Explanation

Procedures with a name ending in '-ostomy' usually involve part of your bowel being joined to an artificial opening called a stoma in your abdomen. The first part of the word refers to the part of the bowel affected, ie "col" in the word colostomy refers to your colon (large bowel) and "ile" in ileostomy refers to your ileum (small bowel). A bag is worn over the stoma to collect bowel movements. The stoma is usually placed low down on your abdomen so it's hidden under your trousers or skirt.

These procedures are carried out if parts of your bowel can't be re-joined after having surgery for Crohn's disease, bowel cancer or other conditions that cause obstructions or inflammation in your bowel. They are usually temporary. An operation is normally carried out a couple of months after your initial treatment to rejoin your bowel and remove the stoma. This is called a stoma reversal. Occasionally, if your bowel can't be rejoined, the stoma is permanent.

Having a stoma can be both physically and mentally challenging. However, most people are able to carry on with their lives as they did before, including participating in activities such as swimming. There are patient groups available that you can contact for support and advice on having a stoma, such as the Colostomy Association.

If you have any questions or concerns about colostomy or ileostomy, talk to your GP.

Further information

Sources

  • Simon C, Everitt H, Kendrick T. Oxford Handbook of General Practice. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007:470-471
  • Surgery for large bowel cancer. Cancerbackup. www.cancerbackup.org.uk, accessed 21 August 2008
back to top

Related topics

back to top

This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: November 2008

 

Rate this page

Up to £100 off a Bupa Health assessment

Bupa health insurance

Free online health check

Bupa Care Homes

Bupa travel cover