Latest news with #bowelcancer
The Sun
an hour ago
- Health
- The Sun
The little-known diet mistake putting millions at risk of bowel cancer – 5 foods to add to your shopping list now
MILLIONS of Brits are missing out on the health benefits of a key nutrient - and could be increasing their bowel cancer risk. New research has found while many are aware it can improve digestive health, they're unaware it can help prevent the deadly disease. 1 The research, commissioned by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), shows just 7 per cent of people know they should be getting 30g of fibre day, with the average Brit thinking they only need 12.4g of fibre a day - less than half of the government's recommendation. This means they could be missing out on a range of potential health benefits that a diet high in fibre can bring – from improved digestive health to reduced risk of bowel disease or diabetes. Whilst nearly two thirds of people (65.3 per cent) said they are aware that fibre improves digestive health and nearly half (49.5 per cent) are aware it can reduce the risk of bowel disease. And less people (35 per cent) are aware that a high fibre diet can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Fibre has been found to reduce the risk of bowel cancer by promoting regular bowel movements, potentially reducing exposure to carcinogens, and supporting a healthy gut microbiome. Whereas fibre is believed to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease primarily by improving blood sugar control, reducing cholesterol levels, and aiding in weight management. In 2015, the UK government boosted its recommended fibre intake guidelines, taking it from 24g to 30g, recognising the crucial role of fibre to people's health. But the average Brit eats just 16g of fibre a day, with only 4 per cent achieving the daily recommendation. Eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, incorporating a range of pulses and choosing wholegrain options can all help people get to 30g of fibre. For example, simply adding a portion of frozen peas to your dinner will increase your fibre by nearly 5g. Diagnosed with bowel cancer at 22 Swapping from white to wholemeal toast can add more than a gram per slice, and if you added a tablespoon of peanut butter that's another gram of fibre. Fibre is best found in fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, legumes, and nuts and seeds. So five foods to add to your shopping list now are: Strawberries Sweet potatoes Brown rice Black beans Almonds The FDF recently revealed its Action on Fibre initiative, which aims to bridge the gap between the nation's fibre intake and the dietary recommendation, has helped to add 1.5 billion portions of fibre to the nation's plates since 2021. Since the initiative began in 2021, participating brands have brought 400 new products and recipes to supermarket shelves. Kate Halliwell, Chief Scientific Officer, FDF said: "Boosting the amount of fibre in your diet is an easy win for your health. And food and drink brands are working hard to make it even simpler to do by developing recipes that help us all to get more fibre. 'We're proud of the impact our Action on Fibre campaign has had so far, but many people still aren't aware of just how important a high fibre diet is and there are only limited ways companies are allowed to highlight the fibre content of food. "That's why we're calling for government, retailers and health charities to work together with food and drink businesses to make it easier for people to choose a high fibre diet.' England is one the countries with the biggest rise in bowel cancer rates, according to a 2024 report in the journal Lancet Oncology. obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol use, low-fibre, and high-fat diets or diets high in processed meats. Dietary changes Reduce red and processed meat: Limit your intake of red meat (beef, pork, lamb) and processed meats (bacon, sausage, deli meats) as they are linked to increased risk. Lifestyle changes Stay physically active: Regular physical activity, even 30 minutes most days of the week, can significantly reduce your risk. Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity is a risk factor, so maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise is crucial. Limit alcohol consumption: Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of bowel cancer. If you drink, do so in moderation. Quit smoking: Smoking is a major risk factor for many cancers, including bowel cancer, so quitting is essential.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Former Black Fern Cheryl Waaka on facing cancer
sport health 30 minutes ago This week a group of healthworkers - including specialists, nurses and paramedics signed an open letter to MPs asking them to waive private healthcare during their time in office. It's an idea, that Mihingarangi Forbes put to former Black Fern Cheryl Waaka - who helped bring home two world cups. At just 55, Cheryl is facing a stage four bowel cancer diagnosis. She's too young to have been screened, and the drug she needs is not funded - she's got to find thirty thousand dollars by August.
Daily Mail
24-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Dad, 31, who had huge cancerous tumour in his bowel reveals the 'red flag' he ignored
A father-of-three who was diagnosed with bowel cancer at just 31-years-old has urged others not to dismiss a little-known sign of the aggressive disease. Chris Kirt started suffering irregular bowel movements and stomach cramps in August 2024 but he shrugged them off as nothing to worry about, reluctant to seek help. But, when he started experiencing one 'stand out' symptom, he knew it could be something more serious. 'The one red flag that was really worrying was actually the fact that I had zero pain when I was passing a bowel movement and there was blood,' he told his 12,000 TikTok followers. 'This was the thing that scared me to death more than anything and I knew in my heart it was cancer.' Recalling the run-up to his devastating diagnosis he said: 'There were the typical symptoms you'd expect: irregular bowel movements, cramps, urgency to got the bathroom, not being able to go to the bathroom. 'But this stood out more than anything. When you have blood you expect to have some sort of pain. There was zero pain for me.' According to the NHS, bowel cancer sufferers may experience bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool, but this can be painless. @official_chriskirt Still groggy from sedation, I looked at the screen and knew something was seriously wrong. This is the raw story of how my colonoscopy revealed my cancer. It's a tough journey, but an important one to share. Don't ignore the signs. Follow for Part 2 to see what happened next. #coloncancer #cancerfighter #cancersucks #menshealth ♬ Pieces (Solo Piano Version) - Danilo Stankovic An anal fissure—a small tear in the anus that usually is not serious—causes severe sharp pain typically accompanied by bright red blood. Mr Kirt added: 'I was losing thick, dark red blood which was light to begin with dark at the end with zero pain whatsoever.' Common symptoms of bowel cancer include bleeding from the rectum, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, extreme fatigue and needing to go to the toilet with more urgency than usual. Despite knowing that something was wrong, a long waiting list stood between Mr Kirt and a explorative colonoscopy to check inside his bowels to identify exactly what was causing his symptoms. As his condition rapidly deteriorated, Mr Kirt decided to pay for the procedure privately, desperate to get a diagnosis. Speaking about the colonoscopy that finally revealed his cancer, he said: 'I had been sedated, but I still aware of what's going on. 'I look at the screen and the first thing I see is this big giant snotty ball on the side of my colon. 'I know it's not right. The room goes quiet. The doctors aren't saying anything. I look at the screen and say what is that—that's cancer.' 'I don't remember anything after that. 'I woke up and I was in the recovery room. I see a doctor to my left with a notepad and a few nurses to my right and I immediately knew it wasn't good.' The newly-engaged software developer has since undergone surgery to have a third of his bowel removed and is now in remission. There are around 44,100 new cases of bowel cancer every year in the UK, making it the third most common cancer. Cancer Research UK estimated over half of bowel cancer cases in the Uk are preventable. But cases are rising in young people, an alarming trend that experts have linked to modern diets, chemical exposure and mobile phone radiation. Although the vast majority of bowel cancer diagnoses affect those aged over 50, rates in older age-groups have held while diagnoses in youngsters are soaring. Rising obesity levels have led to a tripling of deaths from cancers linked to being overweight, American medics have warned. This included deaths from bowel and colon cancer, a form of the disease known to be mysteriously rising among young healthy adults under 50. While obesity is thought to be responsible for about 5 per cent of all cancers in the UK, this dramatically increases for certain types. For bowel cancer—which includes colon and rectal cancer—obesity or being overweight triggers 11 per cent of all cases of this disease. Men are especially at risk with research suggesting a man's risk of developing bowel cancer increases by 10 per cent for every 11lbs (5kg) he puts on in adulthood. While the disease is known linked to obesity, experts have noted that the disease also seems to also be occurring in fit and healthy patients. Some experts believe the explanation must lie in environmental factors young people have been exposed to more than previous generations. While no 'smoking gun' has been found, there are multiple theories. These include modern chemicals in diets, microplastics, pollution, and one recent study even pinned the surge on exposure to E. coli in food.
The Independent
24-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
New research exposes the risk of store-bought self-test kits
Researchers from the University of Birmingham have warned that high street self-tests for conditions like vitamin deficiencies, menopause, and bowel cancer may not be fit for purpose. A review of 30 self-tests found many lacked crucial information on who should use them, how to interpret results, or what actions to take afterwards. Concerns were raised about the accuracy claims of these tests, with evidence often being unavailable or of low quality, and 18 tests were deemed "high risk". Experts, including Professor Kristien Boelaert, highlighted the potential for "false reassurance" and increased demand on the NHS due to these unregulated products. Calls have been made for urgent, tighter regulation of the booming self-test market, which is projected to reach £660m by 2030 in the UK.
The Sun
17-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Agonising cramps, vomiting and odd poos – doctors dismissed them all as IBS but now I won't live to see my 30th birthday
DOCTORS repeatedly dismissed Shannin Pain's vomiting, agonising cramps and oddly-shaped poos as IBS due to her age - until tests revealed she might only have three years to live. The 26-year-old visited three separate doctors after she began struggling to keep food down in October 2023. 7 7 7 But they all insisted her nausea, "stabbing" stomach cramps and bowel changes weren't anything to worry about. Shannin was tested for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease Crohn's, and was even told she might have haemorrhoids. It wasn't until 2024 that an MRI revealed Shannin had stage four bowel cancer that had silently spread through her body. The 26-year-old was given a terrifying prognosis: three years to live with chemotherapy, or just three months without it. 'I knew something wasn't right,' Shannin, a content creator from Kawartha Lakes, Canada, said. 'I was told it was IBS or anxiety. But deep down, my gut was literally screaming at me.' Her symptoms began in October 2023, when she started feeling intense nausea after eating, couldn't keep food down, and noticed her bowel habits had changed dramatically. 'I went from being regular to barely going at all. And when I did, my stool was pencil-thin,' Shannin said. 'It might be TMI, but it was a huge red flag.' She also started experiencing agonising stomach pains. Diagnosed with bowel cancer at 22 'I'd get these stabbing cramps in my lower left abdomen - so bad I couldn't breathe. "I would double over, gasping, clutching my stomach. It felt like something was ripping through me.' Shannin is "frustrated" that none of her doctors suggested she get colonoscopy when she presented with these symptoms. 'Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers if caught early, but no one took me seriously because of my age," she claims. 7 In April 2024, Shannin was sent for an MRI to 'rule things out' - and never left the hospital. 'The scan showed a complete intestinal blockage, and I was admitted on the spot for emergency surgery,' she recalled. 'When I woke up, they told me I had cancer.' Surgeons removed the tumour in her large intestine but during the procedure, they discovered the disease had already spread to her right ovary, which had to be removed. What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer? IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough. While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver. If you notice any of the signs, don't be embarrassed and don't ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems. The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include: Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo A change in your normal toilet habits - going more frequently for example Pain or a lump in your tummy Extreme tiredness Losing weight Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness. In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction. Other signs include: Gripping pains in the abdomen Feeling bloated Constipation and being unable to pass wind Being sick Feeling like you need to strain - like doing a number two - but after you've been to the loo While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools. But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease. Shannin was diagnosed with a Krukenberg tumour, a rare secondary cancer that starts in the gastrointestinal tract and spreads to the ovaries. In the same surgery, doctors also removed 13 of Shannin's lymph nodes, 11 of which were cancerous, and part of her peritoneum - the a membrane that lines the inside of the abdomen and pelvis. With one ovary remaining, Shannin underwent egg retrieval in May 2024 with the hope of being able to have children one day and successfully saved seven eggs. 'The idea of losing my fertility while fighting for my life was heartbreaking,' she said. 'I'm so grateful we were able to get those eggs. It gives me hope for the future.' But Shannin also found out that her liver was so covered in tumours, it couldn't be operated on at all. She was told she needed to start chemotherapy immediately, or the cancer would become untreatable. 7 7 'They said without chemo, I had less than three months. With it, maybe up to three years. I just froze.' As of June 2025, she's completed 27 rounds of chemo and is preparing for her twenty-eighth. In October and November, things took a dangerous turn when Shannin twice went into anaphylactic shock after reacting to one of her chemo drugs. 'My throat closed up. I couldn't breathe. I honestly thought I was going to die.' The 26-year-old instead switched to immunotherapy and a take-home chemo bottle she wears for several days after each session. Last hope Shannin recently received a small but hopeful update: her latest MRI showed no new tumours in her liver. 'Some deposits have grown slightly, but nothing alarming,' she shared. 'After taking a six-week chemo break, I was terrified the cancer had exploded. This gave me relief.' On top of conventional treatment, Shannin is also looking into personalised integrative oncology in hopes of extending her life further. She's working with a naturopathic oncologist in Switzerland, who is conducting testing to determine what therapies might target her cancer, including high-dose vitamin C, Ivermectin, and other metabolic treatments. 'The goal is to test my blood against different therapies and find what actually kills my tumour cells. Then, with those results, I'll hopefully travel to Sweden and start treatment there," Shannin said. There's no reliable scientific evidence that vitamin C or Ivermectin - an anti-parasitic drug - can combat cancer. Shannin has launched a GoFundMe to help fund her travel, testing and treatment. 'This is my last hope. I'm not ready to give up. I've come this far, and I'm going to keep fighting," she said. She's now documenting her experiences on TikTok, hoping to raise awareness for other young people experiencing similar symptoms. 'If I can help even one person get diagnosed sooner, it'll all be worth it. "No one should be told they're too young for cancer.'
