Britons largely unaware of risks and symptoms of bowel cancer: Survey

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDAug 24 2011

The latest research reveals that many people are unaware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and do not know how lifestyle factors can contribute to risk.

A new survey of 1,500 Britons by the Cancer Research UK noted that many people did not know that diet, weight and exercise could have an impact on the likelihood of developing bowel cancer. Awareness of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer also remains low in the UK.

On an average the study population could name just one symptom of bowel cancer and one risk factor. The researchers said there was particularly low awareness of lumps in the abdomen and tiredness as symptoms - both of which could indicate a cancer is present in the bowel.

Although people from a non-white ethnic background tend to have a lower risk of developing bowel cancer, the study said this group had less knowledge about the symptoms. The researchers said the westernisation of diets, such as eating more red meat and dairy products - both linked with increased bowel cancer risk - meant that raising awareness among these groups was vital.

The disease is the third most common cancer in the UK and second largest cause of cancer deaths each year. More than 100 people are diagnosed with the disease every day, but fewer than three quarters of them survive for longer than a year. Each year in Scotland almost 4,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer and more than 1,500 die from the disease.