Skip the primary navigation if you do not want to read it as the next section.
Skip the main content if you do not want to read it as the next section.
Diet and exercise
You can cut your risk by eating less animal fat (such as fatty meat, butter, lard and ghee) and more fresh and raw fruit and vegetables. Wholemeal cereals and flour, and nuts, are also good.
Red and yellow fruits and vegetables including carrots, tomatoes, melons and apricots, as well as spinach, are believed to help prevent the formation of polyps.
If you do drink alcohol, drink it in small amounts. Not more than 2 units per day for women, and 3 units a day for men, are recommended. A unit is equal to about ½ a pint of beer, or a standard pub measure of wine or spirits.
There is evidence that regular exercise has a protective effect.
Recent research suggests that taking a 300mg aspirin tablet daily may protect against the development of colon cancer. The reasons are not fully understood. Seek advice from your GP before taking aspirin protectively.
If you would like more information on healthier living, click on the links below:
- Drinking sensibly, and good links to other websites;
- Eating more fruit and vegetables, in line with the UK government's '5 a day' programme;
- Smoking, and the Isle of Man Quit4You service;
- Food Standards Agency website contains lots of food safety and healthy eating advice. It is regularly updated and covering the latest news.
Be watchful
Become more self-aware. Pay attention to your bowel movements and especially to any changes that take place. A healthy bowel movement is regular and easy. Look for a change towards diarrhoea. Your stools will be different shades of brown if you are eating a healthy, varied diet.
Don't be embarrassed! Be direct and open about your symptoms with your GP - it could save your life.
Your family history
If you have a close relative (parent, brother or sister, half-brother or half-sister) who developed bowel cancer before the age of 45 - or if there have been several cases of the cancer in your family - your doctor may refer you to the Hospital to discuss family history. There are guidelines to help your GP decide who to refer.
The clinic staff can assess your risk of developing bowel cancer. Staff will counsel you and give you advice about tests and treatment.
If you are found to be in a high risk group, you will be offered appropriate screening (by colonoscopy. See the 'what tests will I have?' section for more information.).
Screening
Screening means doing a test to look for early signs of disease. A national screening programme for bowel cancer was introduced in England from April 2006. It will be phased in for men and women in their 60s. People will be sent a faecal occult blood testing kit through the post. They will smear a small sample of stool onto a piece of card and send the card back to the testing centre. Those testing positive for blood in their stool will then be further investigated with flexible colonoscopy.
For more information about screening in the Isle of Man, try the cancer screening programmes section.
