(COLORECTAL) BOWEL CANCER MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE

What are the risk factors for Bowel Cancer?

In the United Kingdom alone, many thousands of people are diagnosed with bowel cancer (colorectal cancer) every year. Both men and women – generally those who are more than 40 years old - can fall ill with bowel cancer, which is also known by the name "colorectal cancer". Unfortunately, scientists and doctors are still not sure about the causes of bowel cancer, despite the fact that there are so many cases cropping up every year. Research has indicated that people who maintain a high-fat, low-fibre diet are more likely to develop bowel cancer. Consuming large amounts of alcohol is also starting to be perceived as a risk factor in the development of this type of cancer. Colorectal or bowel cancer encompasses the existence of cancerous growths not just within the colon, but also in the nearby rectum and appendix to where it may have spread. Being the third most prevalent type of cancer, it is the 2nd-highest cause of death by cancer among Western populations, equivalent to 655,000 deaths annually throughout the world. There are colorectal cancers which are believed to start from generally-benign adenomatous polyps within the colon, which occasionally progress into cancer in some people.

How do you know if you have bowel cancer?

One of the first things to look out for is if your bowel habits have been changing lately. For example, you could be experiencing more incidents of constipation or excessive diarrhea or both. Or perhaps you have seen an alarming degree of mucus and blood in your faeces. People who were found to have a tumour in their rectum reported feeling a certain degree of discomfort (like their bowel needs to be emptied more thoroughly). Such people visit the toilet more often. You may also experience vague stomach discomfort. A general feeling of fatigue and dehydration could also be experienced (this is due to loss of blood). Other symptoms of colon cancer could be: anemia coupled with dizziness, palpitations, and malaise; asthenia and weakness; anorexia; and mysterious and significant weight loss. If you seem to have any of the above symptoms and cannot explain why they exist, see a doctor immediately. The medical technique known as colonoscopy is usually used to diagnose localised colorectal cancer, along with faecal occult testing.

Is there any treatment for Bowel Cancer?

If you experience some or all of these symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor about the possibility of being afflicted with colorectal cancer. There have been many cases where diagnosis was either delayed or neglected altogether and in the event that diagnosis came late, treatment for bowel cancer may have to be more drastic and extensive than when compared to treatment following an early diagnosis. Surgery remains a treatment option for colon cancer, with chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment as additional forms of treatment but these two latter treatments do both have unpleasant side effects. A late diagnosis could result in significantly more pain and suffering for the patient throughout the corresponding treatment and it may also mean that some patients face a lost opportunity to be cured of bowel cancer.

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