Bowel cancer skyrockets among youth: Simple lifestyle changes to prevent it

Early onset bowel cancer is increasing in people aged 25-49 across the world but the rise is sharper in England compared to other countries, says a new Lancet study. Lifestyle factors play a significant role in raising the risk of this cancer. Poor diet with low fibre, more ultra-processed foods, obesity and a lack of exercise are key factors that are fueling its growth. Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK.Bowel cancer develops in the large bowel, which includes the colon and rectum and depending on its location is named as either colon cancer or rectal cancer.Diet is a significant factor when it comes to prevention of bowel cancer as well as while recovering from it. Ultra-processed foods like sweetened breakfast cereals, candy, white bread, and chips not only raise risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, but also lead to obesity as well as cognitive decline. Being obese is one of the risk factors for colorectal cancer.Symptoms of bowel cancer include changes in your stool, diarrhoea or constipation that isn't usual, increase in frequency of visiting toilet, blood in your stool which may look red or black, bleeding from your bottom, feeling the need to pass stools frequently, stomach pain, a lump in your tummy, bloating, losing weight without trying, and feeling very tired for no reason.

Consumption of high amounts of red and processed meat and low intake of fibre might be responsible for the high incidence of bowel cancer in the Western world. Additionally, obesity, lack of physical activity, tobacco and alcohol use, sleep deprivation, and other factors have been proven to further increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

Around 90 per cent of bowel cancers are adenocarcinomas, which means it begins in the glandular tissues lining the bowel. Other less common types of cancer can also affect the bowel, including lymphomas and neuroendocrine tumours. Cancer can also start in the small bowel but this is a rare cancer.To treat colorectal cancer, surgically removing the cancer is the most common treatment for several stages. Chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, radiofrequency ablation, and cryosurgery are other treatments used, depending on the stage.Because of an increased risk of recurrence, differences in anatomy, and poorer prognosis, the treatment of rectal cancer may differ from that of colon cancer. Although surgery remains a common type of treatment for local and locally advanced rectal cancer, people with some stages may be treated with radiation, chemotherapy, and/or targeted therapy with or without surgery.

Key points:

A cancer of the colon or rectum is located at the digestive tract's lower end.Early cases can begin as non-cancerous polyps. These often have no symptoms but can be detected by screening. For this reason, doctors recommend screenings for those at high risk or over the age of 50 or even earlier if a family history of colon cancer is present.Colorectal cancer symptoms depend on the size and location of the cancer. Some commonly experienced symptoms include changes in bowel habits, changes in stool consistency, blood in the stool and abdominal discomfort. Healthy lifestyle changes can significantly help prevent bowel cancer. Here are a few you can make.

1. Eat more fibre

Bowel cancer chances could be greatly reduced with a diet rich in fibre. This includes a wealth of leafy green vegetables, fibrous fruits, nuts and seeds, and consuming other fibre-rich foods. Foods like wholegrain cereals, wholewheat pasta, oats, beans, chickpeas, and lentils are all sources of fibre. Eating at 30 gm fibre every day can cut the risk of bowel cancer.According to a study published in Springer, fibre in meals contributes to decreased transit time through the gastrointestinal tract, dilution of colonic contents, and enhancement of bacterial fermentation, which leads to increased production of short-chain fatty acids.

2. Drink sufficient water

Drinking 6-8 glasses of water is recommended to ward off bowel cancer risk. Water helps flush out harmful toxins and waste products from the colon, preventing their accumulation in the colon cells which could damage the organ. You can increase your fluid consumption by drinking milk, sugar-free drinks, fruit juices, smoothies etc.

3. Exercise regularly

One of the reasons of rise in colon cancer could be the sedentary lifestyle people are leading nowadays. An active lifestyle and workout routine can help reduce chances of this cancer. Walking, skipping, running, cycling - any workout can be considered to stay active.

4. Lose weight

Obesity or being overweight can increase your risk of bowel cancer. It is estimated that 11 out of 100 bowel cancers (11%) in the UK are linked to people not having a healthy body weight. Making efforts to shed pounds can cut the risk of developing bowel cancer.

5. Don't smoke or drink

While 6 out of 100 bowel cancers occur due to alcohol consumption in the UK, 7 such cases happen due to smoking tobacco. The UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) advise that it is safest not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week on a regular basis.Amid growing cases of bowel cancer, it's crucial to not only address risk factors but stay vigilant about the early signs and symptoms. Apart from the healthy lifestyle changes, it's important to get screened at the right time as the majority of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated if they are found early. Screening can detect bowel cancer even before symptoms begin, which can ensure a great possibility to recover from the disease.(Picture courtesy: iStock)