About bowel cancer...

For the first time this century...
more people were diagnosed with bowel cancer (41,596)
than lung cancer (39,635). 

This is the UK's most embarrassing cancer!

5-year survival rates

Stage 1

The cancer has grown through the inner lining of the bowel but not into the muscle wall.

Stage 2

The cancer has grown into the outer wall of the bowel or into nearby tissues.

Stage 3

The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes but not to distant body parts.

Stage 4

The cancer has spread to distant body parts, such as the liver or lungs.

Did You Know...

In the largest study of its kind ever conducted, researchers have determined that almost half of all bowel cancer survivors suffer memory loss and have trouble multitasking and concentrating because of the disease.

Stoma life...

A stoma is a surgically created opening on the abdomen that allows poo to exit the body. It is typically pink and moist, resembling the inside of the mouth, and has no nerve endings. That means it does not cause pain.

Living with a stoma does have some complications.  It does NOT mean that you will have a reduced quality of life, it's just that you will need to consider some things previously taken for granted.  For example:

Eating

Food items such as sweetcorn, peas, mushrooms and onions are not easily digested and you may find your bag contains these items in almost the same conditions as on the way in. Be aware as some food items may create a blockage.

Sleeping

If you have a bag, over time, you may need to work out what to eat and when so that you minimise how many times you need to wake up overnight to avoid stoma bag mishaps.

Flying

Cabin air pressure may play havoc with your stoma, so you may need to reduce you food intake before you fly. Your stoma-bag doesn't stop filling up because the 'return to your seat and fasten your seat belt' sign is switched on!

Driving

Long car journeys need to take into account where the best disabled toilets can be found. The Radar Key will give you access to over 9,000 disabled toilets in the UK.

Also, you may need to adjust how your seat-belt sits across your body.

Swimming

You will have to take into account a whole new set of issues for getting into a swimming pool with a bag hanging from your tummy. This issues will not only include how you will cope, but also how other swimmers will look at you!

Socializing out

When you eat out, or visit a pub, wine-bar, etc., consider how stoma bag friendly are the disabled toilets? Do you have enough space to change your bag if need be?

Sad to say, but many (men's) pub toilets are not a great place to do 'bag maintenance'. 

Don't die of embarrassment...

Thousands of Brits are at increased risk because they are too embarrassed to discuss signs of blood in the bottom of the loo after a poo!

Fear not! You will NOT be the first person to who has this type of problem to discuss with your GP.

Bowel cancer has one of the lowest survival rates in the country because people are reluctant to talk to a GP about bum and poo issues.

This results in delayed diagnosis. From the charts above you will see that stage 4 survival rates are not good. 

This bag is NOT a
Marks & Spencer bag for life...

Living with bowel cancer can be challenging for several reasons:

  • Poo no longer passes through your bum. It passes into a stoma which has to be manually managed.

  • Unlike many other cancers, bowel cancer can result in learning to live with a colostomy or ileostomy bag attached to your abdomen.

  • This bag may be temporary, attached for a while to allow the surgical site to recover without having to deal with waste.
  • This bag may be permanent because your bowel and/or colon has been removed to prolong your life expectancy.  
  • Living with a bag changes many aspects of life from going to the loo when out and about, to how your sleep routine may need to change to avoid night-time spillage and accidents.

Nobody wants to live with a bag that impacts how you live, but its a bag that just may save your life! 

Bowel cancer humour 
you just need to laugh...

You will save an absolute fortune on toilet paper and bum wipes.

You will never argue about whose skid marks are those. 

Chilli Ring Burn will be a thing of the past. All hot chilli food is great. 

Key takeaways...

A recent survey by the British health care group BUPA, found that 35% of Brits don't get bowel cancer symptoms checked because they’re embarrassed. Make an urgent appointment to see your GP if you have:

  • Changing poo habits (constipation, diarrhoea, straining, etc.).

  • Blood in your poo.

  • Blood smears / streaks / spots down the loo pan.

  • Without wishing to sound gross, but you should also check the loo paper after you wipe because that may reveal blood stains that are not always visible down the pan.

Bleeding from your bum is often assumed to be from haemorrhoids, while a change in stools may be put down to IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).  

 

Don't make assumptions, don't be embarrassed...

Assumptions can kill, embarrassment can kill...

Get Tested !