Colorectal cancer is currently the second most common internal malignancy and affects one in twenty Australians. Prostate cancer is more common in men, breast cancer more common in women. Colorectal cancer is responsible for 14% of cancer death with one death occurring every two hours in Australia.

The causes of bowel cancer are complex and involve the interaction of genetic and environmental factors particularly diet. The majority of bowel cancers arise from pre-existing polyps. To watch the video on cancer polyps please click here assets/documents/Colonic_polyps.wmv If the diagnosis can be made at the polyp stage then this can easily be removed by colonoscopy which prevents progression to bowel cancer.

There maybe no symptoms of bowel cancer until the cancer is very advanced. The most common symptom of bowel cancer is rectal bleeding however this can occur with adenomas and a variety of colonic disorders including simple haemorrhoids. Other symptoms include altered bowel habit, constipation, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Unfortunately these symptoms are also common in the world population.

Colonoscopy is the most sensitive and specific means of examining the large bowel.

In an attempt to diagnose bowel cancer early the Australian government has introduced bowel cancer screening tests. This involves testing a stool sample for the presence of blood. The government offers this screening test by mail to all Australians turning 55 and 65 in a particular year. Everybody is strongly advised to participate in the program.  IT IS IMPORTANT TO REALISE THAT THIS IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE FOR THOSE WITH BOWEL SYMPTOMS SUCH AS RECTAL BLEEDING. If the test is positive full investigations including colonoscopy is required. A NEGATIVE OCCULT BLOOD TEST DOES NOT EXCLUDE CANCER.

 For a details discussion of causes symptoms and investigation of bowel cancer go to: assets/documents/Cancer Text.pdf

 
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