Every year in Australia, the month of June has been known as Bowel Cancer Awareness month. PeoplePledge would like to acknowledge Bowel Cancer Awareness month by providing our readers and fundraisers with helpful information this week about bowel cancer.

Bowel cancer seems to be less talked about in the community because of the sensitive nature of the topic. Therefore, education about preventing, symptoms and treatment of bowel cancer have not been prevalent.

What Is Bowel Cancer?

Bowel cancer, also referred to as colorectal cancer is a specific form of cancer of the colon or rectum. Like other forms of cancers, it is a malignant or abnormal growth that develops in a specific part of the body, in this case, in the colon or rectum region. These growths are called Polyps. It is important to understand that not all polyps are cancerous, however over time, it can be cancerous.

What Is The Impact?

The development of cancerous growth can impact the body the following ways:

– Narrow and block the bowel

– Cause bleeding or

– Spread to other organs, which can be life threatening

Is It Treatable?

It is best to speak to your local GP for further information however, in most cases, prevention is key. It is recommended to remove all polyps to reduce risk of developing cancer. This is done through a procedure called colonoscopy, which is less invasive and does not require an operation.

Early detection is also important. See your doctor if you have persistent symptoms that may be bowel cancer. Early detection of cancer can be easily removed through surgery.