Cancer is not a new thing and with the wonders of modern medicine we know that cancer is not one disease, but a cluster of diseases that are specific to different tissues within the body. We know that 1 in 3 men and 1 in 4 women will develop cancer before the age of 75 which makes it impossible for anyone to ignore.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common forms with almost 14,000 new cases per year and accounting for around 4,750 deaths. It is an insidious star player on the cancer team.
As with most forms of cancer, early detection is the key. If detected early bowel cancer has one of the best survival rates. If you experience a change in regular bowel habits, blood in your stool, or blood from the anal passage - get it checked by your GP.
The Cancer Council recommends that the general population get screened for bowel cancer every two years from the age of 50. If you are in this age category or have a strong family history of this disease it would be a good idea to check in with your GP.
From a health promoters perspective we are always going to ask – what are the preventative measures? This is where the light begins to shine bright. The Cancer Council estimates that 75% of all bowel cancers could be prevented by changes to diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors.
One of the major contributors to bowel cancer is physical inactivity. Many studies have concluded that a sedentary lifestyle increases your risk of getting this form of cancer and we know that well over half the Australian population doesn't get enough physical activity to benefit their health.
The World Health Organisation has stated that the evidence is most convincing that colon cancer is reduced by 40% with 30–60 minutes of moderate to vigorous levels of physical activity on a daily basis.
This is great news for everyone, and especially those of us promoting regular movement within your lifestyle. It provides yet another tick in the 'stay active' box – it keeps your bowels healthy too!
For more information on exercise and your health go to
www.lifestylemedicine.net.au.
Provided by
