90% of early-detected cases are successfully treated

The colon and rectum together are known as the large bowel. Cancer of the large bowel is known as colorectal cancer.

Bowel cancer grows from the inner lining of the bowel (mucosa). It usually develops from small growths on the bowel wall called polyps.

Symptoms

In its early stages, bowel cancer can have no symptoms. This means that a person could have polyps or bowel cancer and not be aware of it. If symptoms do appear, the most common ones include:

  • blood or mucous (slimy material) in the faeces
  • unexpected change in bowel habit
  • general discomfort in the abdomen
  • constant tiredness
  • weakness and paleness.

When to see a doctor

Having these symptoms does not mean that you have bowel cancer. However, if you are experiencing these symptoms, you should discuss them with your doctor.

Risk factors can include:

  • smoking
  • eating an excessive amount of red meat (especially when charred)
  • eating processed meats (smoked, cured, salted or preserved)
  • drinking alcohol
  • being overweight or obese
  • in some families, bowel cancer develops due to an inherited gene mutation.

There are several different tests to diagnose bowel cancer. Some of them include:

  • physical examination of the rectum and anus
  • blood test to check for anaemia
  • colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy
  • CT scan or MRI of the bowel.
National Bowel Cancer Screening Program

The Program is an Australian Government initiative that sends out free bowel cancer screening tests to eligible Australians aged 50–74 every two years. Bowel cancer screening can detect cancers at an earlier stage when treatment can be more successful.

Surgery is the most common treatment for removing cancer from the bowel. Some people may also require chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy to reduce the size of the tumour and prevent progression of the disease. If surgery is not an option, then chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be offered to slow disease progression and help control the symptoms

As with all cancer diagnoses, your treatment will be determined following presentation of your case at a multidisciplinary team meeting with collaborative discussion about the best possible treatment and outcomes. After the meeting, your specialists will meet with you to discuss their recommendations and provide a detailed explanation of possible treatment options.

The final decision regarding the treatment and care plan is made in consultation with you. Cancer specialists work collaboratively to develop an individualised care plan for you and they are supported by oncology nurses and allied health professionals.

Treatment for bowel cancer depends on:

  • the stage of the disease
  • the location of the cancer
  • the severity of symptoms
  • your general health and wishes.

Healthy diet and lifestyle choices, as well as screening and surveillance, can help to reduce your bowel cancer risk.

  • Evidence reveals quitting smoking, abstaining from or limiting alcohol consumption, and eating foods containing dietary fibre are all beneficial.
  • Maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in regular physical activity have also been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer, but not rectal cancer.
  • Bowel cancer screening can help to catch bowel cancer in its early stages, when it is very treatable.
  • If you have an inherited gene mutation, it's important to maintain careful surveillance.

The Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences is currently running several clinical trials that are evaluating new treatments for bowel cancer.

Find out more about our bowel cancer research.

Macquarie GI Clinic

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