June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, a Bowel Cancer Australia initiative to raise awareness of Australia’s second deadliest cancer and raise funds for the leading community-funded charity dedicated to prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment and the best care for everyone affected by bowel cancer.
Signs & Symptoms | Tips to reduce risk |
· Blood in the bowel movement or rectal bleeding | · Participate in bowel screening appropriate to individual level of risk (age, family history, etc) |
· A persistent change in bowel habit, such as looser, more diarrhea-like bowel movements, constipation, or smaller more frequent bowel movements | · Avoid processed meats and limit red meat consumption · Be physically active as part of everyday life · Quit smoking |
· Unexplained anaemia causing tiredness or weight loss | · If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount |
· Abdominal pain, especially if severe | · Avoid weight gain and increases in waist circumference |
· Eat wholegrains and naturally high-fibre foods |
