bowels c Flashcards
what is bowel cancer
Bowel cancer, is the name most commonly given to any cancer of the large bowel (referred to as the colon) and the back passage (known as the rectum )
Most bowel cancers start as non-cancerous, fleshy growths – called polyps – on the walls of the bowel
Most polyps do not produce symptoms although they can develop into cancer over a number of years
stage 1
Stage 1 means that the cancer has grown through the inner lining of the bowel, or into the muscle wall, but no further. There is no cancer in the lymph nodes
stage 2
means the cancer is localised and there is no cancer in the lymph nodes. Stage 2 can be divided into 2A and 2B.
Stage 2A means that the cancer has grown into the outer covering of the bowel.
Stage 2B means that the cancer has grown through the outer covering of the bowel, into the tissues and organs next to it. The cancer has not spread to another area of the body.
stage 3
Stage 3A means that the cancer is still in the inner layer of the bowel wall. Or it has grown into the muscle layer. Between 1 to 3 nearby lymph nodes may contain cancer cells.
Stage 3B means that the cancer has grown into the outer lining of the bowel wall. Or into the surrounding body tissues or organs. Between 1 to 3 nearby lymph nodes can contain cancer cells.
Stage 3C means that the cancer can be any size. It has spread to 4 or more nearby lymph nodes. The cancer has not spread to any other part of the body.
stage 4
Stage 4 means that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Such as the liver, lungs or bones. The cancer spreads through the lymphatic system or the bloodstream.
understand importance of early diagnosis 1
fiver year survival by stage
- 98%
s2. 85%
s3. 65%
s4. 8%
what affects survivial
The type of cancer and grade of the cancer cells can also affect your likely survival. Grade means how abnormal the cells look under the microscope.
The patient’s general health and fitness also affect survival because overall, the fitter they are, the better they may be able to cope with your cancer and treatment.
Some bowel cancers make a protein called carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). People wth high CEA levels before treatment may have a worse outlook.
Bowel cancer can sometimes cause a blockage in the bowel (bowel obstruction). If this happens, patients have a small risk of developing a hole in the wall of the bowel. This is called perforation. People with bowel cancer who have an obstruction or perforation of the bowel have a worse outlook.
signs and symptoms
Bleeding from your bottom or blood in your faeces
with no obvious reasons
Changes in your bowel habits
such as going more often, diarrhoea or constipation – with no explanation
Losing weight
For no reason/without trying
Extreme tiredness
With no explanation
Pain or a lump in your stomach
reduce risk
maintain healthy BMI
- Excess fat changes the levels of sex hormones, like oestrogen and testosterone, in the body. This may increase the risk of cancer.
- The hormone insulin is a very important part of how the body uses energy from food. When people are overweight or obese, there is much more insulin present in the body. It’s not clear how this could lead to cancer, though it could be because insulin affects the levels of growth factors available to cells which tell them to divide.
reduce risk
quit smoking
The main way that smoking causes cancer is by damaging our DNA, including key genes that protect us against cancer. Many of the chemicals found in cigarettes have been shown to cause DNA damage, including benzene, polonium-210, benzo(a)pyrene and nitrosamines.
. However research has shown that for every 15 cigarettes smoked there is a DNA change which could cause a cell to become cancerous.
reduce risk
drink alcohol in moderation
In our bodies, alcohol (ethanol) is converted into a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde.
-Acetaldehyde also causes liver cells to grow faster than normal. These regenerating cells are more likely to pick up changes in their genes that could lead to cancer.
reduce risk
diet
- processed red meat can increase the risk of bowel cancer, and possibly stomach and pancreatic cancer.
- Many studies show that foods high in fibre reduce the risk of bowel cancer. Foods high in fibre include fruits, vegetables, pulses and wholegrain foods, but the strongest evidence is for wholegrains.
reduce risk
physical activity
Physical activity helps food move through our bowels. When food moves through our bowels quickly this reduces the amount of time that the inside lining of the bowel is in contact with any harmful chemicals, like those released when you consume alcohol or red and processed meat. So there’s less chance of them being able to cause damage that could lead to cancer.
bowel cancer screening
All men and women aged 60 to 74 are invited to carry out a faecal occult blood (FOB) test. Every two years, they’re sent a home test kit, which is used to collect a stool sample.
If you’re 75 or over, you can ask for this test by calling the freephone helpline on 0800 707 60 60.
bowel cancer screening 2
An additional one-off test called bowel scope screening is gradually being introduced in England. This is offered to men and women at the age of 55. It involves a doctor or nurse using a thin, flexible instrument to look inside the lower part of the bowel.
Taking part in bowel cancer screening reduces your chances of dying from bowel cancer. Removing any polyps found in bowel scope screening can prevent cancer
