Focus on bowel cancer and bowel cancer advice

Sun Life Direct, the UKs no.1 life insurance over 50s provider, is taking a closer look at some of the most common illnesses found in old age. This week the focus is on bowel cancer. It's the UK's second biggest cancer killer, but there is some bowel cancer advice you can take to keep yourself safe from bowel cancer. Bowel cancer (also known as colo-rectal or colon cancer) is a disease of the lower bowel or rectum. It affects around one in 18 people, men and women equally. And despite improvements in survival rates over the past 30 years, it remains the UK's second deadliest cancer, with over 16,000 people dying from it every year. Bowel cancer is very much an older person's disease - almost 85 per cent of cases are in people over 65 and the average age of diagnosis is 70.

Early diagnosis It is a disease where early diagnosis is extremely important. If caught early, over 90 per cent of patients will survive for at least five years, but just seven per cent of those diagnosed at a later stage will live this long. It's therefore extremely important to know the symptoms to look out for and the steps you can take to avoid getting the disease in the first place.

Symptoms The symptoms of bowel cancer can vary and not everyone gets them. Generally you should look out for:

Flecks of blood in your stools. This is the symptom most commonly seen with bowel cancer and you should always report this to your doctor. Changes lasting for two weeks or more in your normal bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhoea. A feeling that you need to empty your bowels, even when you just have. Abdominal pain or discomfort lasting for two weeks or more. Unexplained weight loss. Feeling tired, dizzy or breathless.

You should go and see your doctor if you have any of these symptoms for more than four weeks. "Most of us will experience problems with our bowels at some time in our lives," says Lilian Wiles, Head of Patient Services at Beating Bowel Cancer. "Occasional tummy upsets and bleeding from the bottom are very common and the majority of people with symptoms like

these do not have cancer. However, it's important to discuss any persistent, unusual symptoms with your doctor." "It's surprising how often people are embarrassed about seeing their doctor about this part of the body - they really shouldn't be," says Dr Carol Cooper, The Sun newspaper's resident GP. "Sometimes people are reluctant to go because they're scared of getting bad news. But, with bowel cancer especially, it's important not to leave it." Health Minister Paul Burstow adds: "No one likes talking about their poo - it's embarrassing. But if we see something different and tell our GP, it could save our life."

Causes and precautions We don't know exactly what causes bowel cancer, but diet, lifestyle and family history all affect your chances of developing it. To help reduce your risk, you should:

Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, wholegrain foods and fish and avoid fatty, red and processed meat Take regular exercise Avoid smoking Drink alcohol only moderately

Around a third of bowel cancers are linked to family history. So if you have a relative under 45 with bowel cancer or two family members of any age with the disease, talk to your doctor about genetic screening to see if you're at risk.

Free bowel cancer screening The NHS bowel cancer screening programme offers free screening every two years to people aged 60 to 69 in England and Wales, and 50 to 74 in Scotland. This takes place at screening centres, which are located across the country. If you're over 70, you can also order your own screening kit. The aim of the screening programme is to detect bowel cancer at an early stage. Yinka Ebo, Senior Health Information Officer at Cancer Research UK, says: "If you get a bowelscreening kit through the post, it's important that you follow the instructions, because the test can help pick up early signs of bowel cancer, even if you feel perfectly well." To find out more about the screening programme or to order a screening kit, you can visit www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel or call the freephone helpline on 0800 707 6060.

Further information Beating Bowel Cancer has a nurse helpline for anyone worried about symptoms, visit www.beatingbowelcancer.org or call 08450 719 301. Bowel Cancer UK also has an advisory service on 0800 840 3540 or go to www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk for more

information. Or, if you have any concerns about your health, the number for NHS Direct is 0845 46 47. Finally, the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK, which Sun Life Direct is proud to be sponsoring this year, has nurses available to speak to in the strictest confidence - just call 0808 800 4040. "Our aim is to do everything we can to help protect the lives of the over 50s, which is why we're proud to support the Bobby Moore Fund," says Mark Howes, our Managing Director. To find out more

More Focus on.. You can read more health and wellbeing information in Sun Life Directs free online lifestyle magazine called LifeMatters. About LifeMatters Magazine LifeMatters is Sun Life Directs free online lifestyle magazine for silver surfers. Its packed with useful articles on everything from home and garden to finance and health. Use the brain teasers to test the grey matter, enjoy amusing stories and pick up handy hints and tips theres even regular prizes to be won. So why not take a look, were sure youll find something to entertain you! About Sun Life Direct Sun Life Direct is a provider of Over 50s Life Insurance, Funeral Plans and Term Life Insurance. In fact, the Guaranteed Over 50 Plan is the nation's most popular choice for over 50s life insurance*. The Sun Life name has been around for 200 years and has roots stretching back to 1810. By 1900 Sun Life were the first to offer life insurance without the need for a medical something were still proud to offer today. More information on Sun Life Direct can be found at www.sunlifedirect.co.uk *Most popular whole of life guaranteed acceptance plan bought directly. ABI statistics, Q1Q4 2011