What is large bowel cancer?
Cancer in the large bowel is called large bowel cancer or colorectal cancer. It’s more common in men than women and in people over 50. Most large bowel cancers develop in the inner lining of the bowel.
Causes of large bowel cancer
It’s not always clear what cases large bowel cancer. However, certain factors increase your risk. These include:
- Polyps
- A family history of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC, two rare genetic conditions that occur in some families
- Being overweight
- Heavy drinking and smoking
- One or more family members have had bowel cancer
- Having had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). For example, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- A high diet in red or processed meats such as ham or salami
- Certain infections such HPV, HIV (anal cancer) and Helicobacter pylori infections
Symptoms of large bowel cancer
Changes in your usual bowel habit (constipation or diarrhoea)
Feeling as if you haven’t emptied your bowel after a bowel movement
Light or dark blood in the stools or on toilet paper
Weakness or fatigue
Pain when passing a bowel movement
Cramping, pains or swell of tummy
Unexplained weight loss
Having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but it’s best to ask your doctor for advice. The sooner your cancer is detected, the better the chances of treating it successfully.
Test and diagnosis
Your doctor will discuss your symptoms and carry out a physical examination. You may also have:
- Blood tests
- Colonoscopy – to examine the bowel using a camera. Sometimes a tiny sample of tissue may be taken for analysis (biopsy)
- Scans including CT, PET, MRI or ultrasound
- Sigmoidoscopy or proctoscopy – both tests involve using a camera to examine the large bowel. Your doctor will also take a small tissue sample (biopsy)
- X-ray
- Genetic testing
Treatments we offer
Treatments for bowel cancer may include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells. It’s used in the early stages of cancer treatment or after it has started to spread. It can also be used to relieve pain and discomfort from cancer that has spread.
Chemotherapy is medication that treats your cancer. The drugs kill cancer cells, preventing them from dividing and spreading further.
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells. It’s used in the early stages of cancer treatment or after it has started to spread. It can also be used to relieve pain and discomfort from cancer that has spread.
Chemotherapy is medication that treats your cancer. The drugs kill cancer cells, preventing them from dividing and spreading further.
