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Bowel cancer

Bowel cancer treatment works best if the cancer is found early. It's one of the most common cancers in Australian men and women - especially as you get older. 
 
What are early signs of bowel cancer?  
You know your own body best. If you notice that something has changed, check with your doctor. A regular checkup is a good idea as you get older. Ask your doctor about bowel cancer screening if you're 50 or over. 

If you notice
  • changes in your normal bowel pattern - using your bowels more or less often than is normal for you
  • bleeding from the bowel - small amounts of blood in the toilet, on toilet paper or dark red in the faeces
  • anemia (lack of iron in the blood) - you may feel tired and weak
  • abdominal cramps or pain
  • bloating, weight loss, general feeling of being unwell

see your doctor straight away. These things can be signs of other problems too - it's not always cancer. But they need to be checked to make sure.

I think bowel cancer runs in my family - what do I do?
If a close relative (parent, brother, sister or child) had bowel cancer before they turned 55, or if more than one relative on the same side of your family has had bowel cancer, then you may have a family history - but most people don't.

If you think you have a family history of bowel cancer, talk to your doctor about your risk of getting the disease and if you need regular bowel cancer screening.

Bowel cancer screening 
Screening tests look for markers of disease in healthy people who don't have any symptoms. The test used for bowel cancer is a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) - it looks for tiny amounts of blood in your faeces. We recommend that men and women over 50 talk to their doctor about doing this test.

Some people will be tested through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

Who will be screened? 
  • Anyone who turns 55 or 65 between May 1 2006 and 30 June 2008
  • People involved in the Pilot Program a few years ago.
How are they contacted? 
Eligible people will receive a package in the mail that includes  
  • information about the program
  • a Faecal Occult  Blood Test (FOBT) kit that looks for microscopic amounts of blood in your bowel motion.
What if I'm not eligible? 
The Cancer Council South Australia encourages testing by FOBT of people over 50 years of age, every 2 years. Talk to your doctor if you would like to be tested, or are worried about your risk of bowel cancer.
 
Find out more 
Go to our Online library - Cancer types section 
   Read Adenomas (polyps) of the bowel and Bowel cancer
   See also Finding bowel cancer early in 16 languages 
 
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program 
Bowel cancer screening [The Cancer Council Australia position statement]
 


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