Learning About Bowel Cancer
- Rob Gore, 40, dismissed his bowel cancer symptoms when he started rapidly losing weight and bleeding when he went to the bathroom. Now, he’s sharing his story to educate others about signs of the disease.
- Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel, but generally we use the term colorectal cancer in the United States.
- Possible symptoms of colorectal cancer to look out for can include a change in bowel habits, a feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that's not relieved by having one, rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, cramping or belly pain, weakness and fatigue and unintended weight loss.
- Screenings have made a big difference in colorectal cancer prevention. But with colorectal cancer cases in younger people on the rise, the recommended age for beginning screening has been moved from 50 to 45.
When Rob Gore, 40, started to lose weight, he chalked it up to working too hard and not eating right. He also started passing blood when he went to the bathroom, but he continued to dismiss his symptoms.
Read MoreNow, he still has regular scans and checkups and takes medication, but he is doing much better. He says his family has provided a huge sense of support for him during this tumultuous time.
“My wife and the kids have been brilliant,” he said. “I have two stepchildren and a daughter and they’ve just climbed Moel Famau in north Wales to raise money for a charity that supports children whose family members have cancer. They were really keen to give something back and I’m so proud of them.”
He’s even back to working full-time, but, mostly, he’s trying to enjoy time with his family.
“We’re just making the most of everything we can trying to get out there, do stuff and enjoy life,” he said. “It’s been really nice to be back in work as well, seeing people, because I’m not one for sitting around.”
Thankfully, Gore’s kept a positive attitude throughout his cancer journey. But he’s determined to use his experience to educate others about the disease.
“I always tell friends, family, anyone if you have any signs at all, please go and see someone,” he said. “It feels huge when something in your body isn’t right, but there’s no need to be scared. Getting diagnosed with cancer isn’t all doom and gloom. There’re treatment available, so it’s always best to get symptoms checked out and either put your mind at rest or get the care you need.”
What Is Bowel Cancer?
Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that begins in the large bowel, but generally we use the term colorectal cancer or colon cancer or rectal cancer depending on the location of the cancer in the United States.
Bowel cancer, like all cancers, presents its own unique challenges for patients on the road to recovery. But Dr. Heather Yeo, a surgical oncologist and colorectal surgeon at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, wants to remind people how far the treatment of this disease has come.
"One of the most exciting things about my job is that we've made a lot of progress on treatment options," Dr. Yeo says in a previous interview with SurvivorNet. "However, patients are still while they're living longer, they are still living with colon cancer, and so I think it's really important that we talk about how some of the things in your life affect you."
Symptoms of Bowel Cancer
Colorectal (bowel) cancer might not immediately cause symptoms, but these are possible symptoms to look out for:
- A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days
- A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that's not relieved by having one
- Rectal bleeding with bright red blood
- Blood in the stool, which might make the stool look dark brown or black
- Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
- Weakness and fatigue
- Unintended weight loss
It is important to note, however, that displaying some of these symptoms does not mean you have colorectal cancer. You could also have bowel cancer and not display any of these symptoms. Regardless, it is important to bring up any symptoms to your doctor should they arise.
Screening for Bowel Cancer
Dr. Yeo also reminds people of the importance of colorectal screenings such as colonoscopies because most colorectal cancers can be prevented early with screening.
"In the United States, on a national level, colorectal cancer has been decreasing for the last 20 years," Dr. Yeo says. "And much of that is thought to be directly due to screening for colon cancer."
"You Shouldn't Die From Embarrassment": Colon Cancer Can Be Prevented
Even still, colorectal cancer cases are rising among younger people. And in the United States alone, rates have increased every year from 2011 to 2016 by 2 percent among people younger than 50. Because of this increase, the United States Preventive Services Task Force has recently updated its colorectal cancer screening recommendations to begin at age 45 instead of 50.
"We know that colon cancers can be prevented when polyps are found early," Dr. Yeo said. "Lowering the screening age helps somewhat with this. But access to care is a real problem."
And increasing access is crucial to making sure that we don't see racial disparities within the world of colorectal cancer. Whites and Asians are significantly more likely to be up to date with their colonoscopies than African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans.
RELATED: Why Do So Few Black Men Get Colon Cancer Screenings?
Research suggests that tailoring colon cancer screenings to each person's individual risk may be beneficial. If you are not yet 45 but have concerns about your risk, talk to your doctor. Ask about your individual risk based on your lifestyle and family history and find out when screenings would be right for you.
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