People under 50 with bowel cancer often face lengthy delays being diagnosed, significantly reducing their chances of survival. Now, a new risk assessment tool aims to help GPs determine which patients need further tests by predicting their risk of bowel cancer based on their symptoms. Bowel related symptoms are common One in 12 people who visit…
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects more than 300,000 people in the UK, but this is believed to be an underestimate as it is thought that many people who have the condition are undiagnosed. IBD is the umbrella term given to Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, chronic conditions that produce symptoms including diarrhoea, cramping pains, fatigue, anaemia,…
We all know that exercise is good for us but how many of us are aware that regular exercise can actually lower our risk of developing bowel cancer? With bowel cancer accounting for the deaths of 16,384 people in 2016 – roughly one every 30 minutes – that’s a lot of lives that could be…
A hernia develops when an internal organ pushes through a weakened area in the muscle or tissue that is meant to hold it in place. As June is Hernia Awareness Month, we have listed 10 ways to spot if you have a hernia, so you can seek medical advice. A bit about hernias Hernias occur most…
A new screening test for bowel cancer could prevent the need for invasive tests and save lives in the future. A study published in September 2017 in the journal Cancer Medicine showed that analysing previous blood tests in a patient’s medical records could help to accurately determine their risk of developing colorectal cancer. Essentially, by examining…
Men are more likely to develop bowel cancer than women and to mark Men’s Health Awareness Week from 11th to 17th June, we are looking at what men can do to improve their bowel health. Bowel cancer statistics Fifty-five per cent of bowel cancer cases in the UK occur in men compared to 45% in…
Any cancer diagnosis can come as a shock, but thankfully, for many people, the disease is no longer a death sentence. Bowel cancer survival rates in the UK have more than doubled in the last 40 years – up from 45% to 75% in adults overall. If you are diagnosed with bowel cancer this year, you…
Around 10 million people across the world live with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Fifty countries across five continents now take part in World IBD Day (May 19) to raise awareness of this life-changing disease. There is no cure for IBD and we are not even certain of the cause. Unless you have the condition it can…
One in five of us will suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) at some point during our lives. No-one is quite sure what causes it but stress and diet are believed to play a key role. IBS is a distressing long-term condition that can cause: stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation. It can have not…
If you’re suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, certain foods are likely to trigger your symptoms. Some foods are well known as possible triggers for IBS but others will be unique to you. Your symptoms may also get triggered when you are particularly stressed or when you experience certain emotions. They may improve after exercise or…