Bowel cancer will affect 1 in 13 Australians during their lifetime with over 15,000 of us diagnosed each year. June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and the good news is there are some simple strategies for reducing your risk of both developing the disease or dying from it. As with many cancers, prevention and early detection are key. Here are some steps you can take now:
- Screening tests: whether to test and which test is right for you will depend on a few factors such as your age and/or family history.
- Eating a healthy diet especially with increased fibre from fruit, veggies and wholegrains and reducing red and processed meat. See below for a delicious and nourishing autumn recipe.
- Exercising regularly: 30 minutes most days is all it takes to cut the risk of many cancers.
- Keeping weight in the healthy range: being overweight or obese can increase the risk, especially in men.
- Quitting smoking and keeping alcohol intake to safe levels can drastically reduce the risk of many cancers including bowel cancer.
- Knowing the symptoms: it may be nothing serious but a recent change in your bowel habit or blood in your stool shouldn’t be ignored.
If you’d like to know more about your risk factors, whether you should have a test or are a bit worried about some symptoms, we can help. Book an appointment with your doctor.
For more information on bowel cancer visit Bowel Cancer Australia.
If you’re over 50 and have received your screening test kit but haven’t done it yet, there’s no time like the present! More info here.
Recipe: Lemony Chicken Soup
A delicious winter recipe for supporting your immune system and boosting your fibre intake. From Bowel Cancer Australia. Enjoy!
Photo by Scott Warman on Unsplash