Colorectal (Bowel) Cancer
Both men and women are at risk for colorectal cancers.
Causes and risk factors include:- Diet high in meat and low in vegetables
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Lack of exercise
- Gaining weight
- Family history
- Ulcerative colitis
- Changes in bowel habits; for example, alternating constipation and diarrhoea
- Pain during defecation
- Fatigue, anaemia
- Bleeding from your rear end.
- Stool examination for occult blood every year
- Proctoscopy and rectal examination every year
- Other diagnostic tests are used if there is a suspicion of cancer, including x-rays and colonoscopy (examination of the bowel with a long tube inserted into your rear end)
- A vegetarian, high vegetable diet
- Exercise
- Not gaining weight
- No tobacco or alcohol