Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Bowel Cancer UK is trying to increase awareness in an attempt to help people understand that bowel cancer is a serious condition that can in part be prevented by leading a healthier life. Its the same message that government bodies and health insurance companies are trying to promote.

According to the campaign someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer every 15 minutes in the UK. The symptoms of the disease are:

• A change in your normal bowel habit lasting four weeks or more
• Blood in your stools (poo) and/or bleeding from the bottom
• Unexplained unexplained weight loss and/or extreme tiredness
• A lump or pain in your abdomen (belly)

Reducing Risk
Living a healthier life helps to prevent many cancers and diseases. Like Bowel Cancer UK, most medical insurance companies are promoting healthy lifestyles in an attempt to improve the nation's health. Comprehensive insurance for cancer is expensive because treatments and drugs have improved so much over the last ten years. Some factors that can help you reduce the risk of bowel cancer are:

• Get to know your bowel pattern, so that you know what's normal for you
• Exercise regularly to help maintain a balanced weight
• Drink lots of water
• Eat a high fibre diet made up of at least five portions a day of fruit and vegetables
• Limit your consumption of red and processed meat to a maximum of one portion (approximately 80g) per day
• Do not drink more than the recommended alcohol limits of 14 units per week for women and 21 for men
• Increase unsaturated fats and avoid saturated fats
• Don't smoke
• Take part in the Bowel Cancer Screening Programmes when they roll out in your area and you are invited to do so
• Have a bowel screening if their is a history of bowel cancer in your family