Colon Cancer in the UK: Let’s Talk About It (Even If It Feels Awkward)
I’ll be honest with you – talking about bowels isn’t exactly something we Brits do easily. We’re a nation that would rather chat about the weather, football, or even how bad the trains are running, than about what goes on when we’re sat on the loo. But here’s the thing: ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. And when it comes to colon cancer, silence can cost lives.
This is not to scare you. This is to tell you all that perhaps you (or in your family) need to book that GP appointment, send the small NHS kit that is collecting dust in the kitchen drawer, or just eat an extra apple a day.
What is the colon cancer really
So, break it. Colon cancer (or bowel cancer, which we often hear it in the UK) begins in the large intestine. Most of the time, it begins as a small lump called polyps. Imagine small bumps on the inside wall of your intestine. Each polyp will not be bad, but do something if they leave on their equipment.
Sneaky bit? You cannot feel them. They do not give you a warning bell. This is why the entire business of screening matters so much.
Why It Hits Home in the UK
Here’s a number that gave me a lump in my throat when I first read it: around 42,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year. That’s people in towns and cities we all know – Manchester, Cardiff, Belfast, Edinburgh, Norwich, Birmingham, and everywhere in between.
It’s the second biggest cancer killer here. But (and this is the part I cling to) over half of those cases could be prevented. That means it’s not all fate or bad luck – lifestyle, awareness, and catching things early really do matter.
Who’s More at Risk?
Now, before you start panicking, remember: risk doesn’t equal certainty. But some of us do sit higher up the risk ladder.
- Age: Most cases are in people over 50, though it can affect younger folk too.
- Family history: If your dad or sister’s had bowel cancer, your GP will likely take you more seriously.
- Diet: The more processed or red meat, the higher the risk. And if you’re low on fibre, your gut won’t thank you.
- Lifestyle: Smoking, boozing, and spending too much time on the sofa instead of out for a walk.
- Medical history: Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, things like that.
- Weight: Carrying extra weight around the middle makes the risk higher.
I once had a neighbour in Leeds – never smoked a day in her life, loved her veggies – still got diagnosed. So yes, risk matters, but it’s not the whole story.
Symptoms You Shouldn’t Brush Off
Here’s the awkward list nobody likes reading:
- Blood in your poo. Not just once after a curry, but regularly.
- Changes in how you go to the loo – diarrhoea, constipation, or just feeling like you’ve not finished.
- A tummy that hurts or feels bloated more often than not.
- Losing weight without even trying.
- Feeling knackered all the time, sometimes because of anaemia.
If you’ve got these for three weeks or more, please, please don’t ignore them. Book that GP appointment. I know it’s hard to get one these days, with surgeries busier than ever, but push for it.
Screening: The Free NHS Lifeline
Now this is something worth celebrating – the NHS sends out free bowel cancer screening kits. If you’re between 60 and 74 in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland (and 50 in Scotland), one lands on your doormat every couple of years. England is bringing the age down to 50 gradually, which is brilliant.
It’s called the FIT test. Yes, it means putting a tiny sample of poo in a little tube. Not glamorous. But it’s quick, easy, and can literally save your life. My uncle in Birmingham nearly chucked his in the bin – said it was “too much faff.” He ended up doing it, they found blood, and long story short, they caught something early that could have turned nasty. He’ll tell anyone now: “Do the test, it’s easier than making a cup of tea.”
What can you do to reduce your risk
Here is the bit where they add everyday options. None of this is rocket science, but it works.
- Eat more fibers: beans, oatmeal, brown bread instead of white – easy swap.
- Cut on processed meat: A fry-up is now and then fine, but not every day.
- Proceed: A sharp walk for shops, dancing around the kitchen, cycling in the park.
- Drink less, quit smoking: Both are associated with high cancer risks.
- Keep an eye on your weight: not about being thin, but about staying in a healthy range.
Honestly, these are things that most of us know but do not always work. A reminder never hurts.
Treatment on NHS
If you are diagnosed, NHS has some best teams in the world. Treatment depends on how far things have gone.
- Surgery: Removing bowel bit with cancer. Sometimes people require a foreman (a bag), sometimes for a while, sometimes for a long time.
- Chemotherapy: Medicines that kill cancer or kill slowly.
- Radiotherapy: Often used for rectal cancer.
- Targeted Treatment: New drugs that are improving results.
The survival rate is continuously climbing. Ten years ago, your audities were less than today. Progress is real.
Life After Cancer
Recovery isn’t just physical. There’s the emotional side too. People worry it’ll come back, or they struggle with fatigue. The NHS, Macmillan, and Bowel Cancer UK all provide brilliant support.
I spoke to a woman from Bristol who said the local support group was her lifeline. “It wasn’t just about cancer,” she said, “it was about not feeling alone.”
Community Matters
In the UK, we’re great at rallying together. From Race for Life runs to coffee mornings, awareness campaigns to NHS posters in GP surgeries – it’s not just doctors fighting this, it’s all of us.
Next time someone mentions that awkward NHS test kit, don’t joke it off. Encourage them. Remind them it could save their life.
Final Thoughts
Colon cancer is not a distant, rare disease. This in our communities, affects people we know. But this is not unbeatable. Between screening, awareness and lifestyle changes, we can turn the tide.
So let’s break the British habit of being silent about it. Talk about your heat habits. Remind your parents to send their kits. Swap white bread for brown. Small changes, small interaction – large impact.
Because in the end, colon cancer is not only about data. It is about people. People like you and me.