Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the world.
Bowel cancer is also known as colorectal cancer and it can develop anywhere in the large bowel, which includes the colon and rectum. Rectum is the lower part of the large bowel where stool is stored before it is expelled from the body during bowel movement.
Bowel cancer develops when there is uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the colon or rectum. It often starts as small polyps, which can become cancerous over time.
The exact cause of bowel cancer is not fully understood, but it can be caused by lifestyle or diet, genetic changes, and environmental factors.
There are certain factors that increase the risk of getting bowel cancer, and these include being over the age of 50, smoking, being overweight or obese, and positive family history of bowel cancer.
Having certain medical conditions can also increase the risk of bowel cancer development. It is thought that inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis; bowel polyps, Lynch Syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis can increase the risk of bowel cancer.
The common symptoms of bowel cancer include changes in bowel habits, blood in stools, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain or lump, bloating, and fatigue. The changes in bowel habits can present as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is unusual.
It should be noted that bowel cancer can cause anaemia, which can lead to tiredness, breathlessness and headaches.
Bowel cancer screening is a test that can be done at home to check for signs of bowel cancer. It is usually offered to people who are over the age of 54, but this can vary from country to country.
Since having blood in stools could be a sign of bowel cancer, the screening uses a test called FIT or faecal immunochemical test to look for blood in a sample of poo.
Bowel cancer screening or FIT test is not enough to diagnose bowel cancer. The main test for bowel cancer is a colonoscopy to check inside of the large bowel with a probe and camera.
If bowel cancer is confirmed, the treatment depends on the size of the cancer, its exact location, if it has spread or metastasised, genetic involvement, and the age and overall health of the person.
The treatment options are surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and specialised or targeted medicines, and immunotherapy.
Surgery is the main treatment if the cancer is localized in one area. This may involve removing part of the colon or rectum.
Chemotherapy is designed to kill cancer cells. This can be used after the surgery to stop the cancer coming back. It can also be used if bowel cancer has spread to other parts of the body, or if surgery is an option.
Radiotherapy uses radiation to kill cancer cells. This is more commonly used for rectal cancer, either before surgery to shrink the cancer or after to prevent recurrence. It can also be used if bowel cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are used for advanced bowel cancer to block cancer growth or help the immune system fight cancer.
It is not always possible to prevent bowel cancer, but there are certain measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of getting it.
It is recommended that to eat a healthy diet with at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, to do regular exercise, to lose weight if overweight, to avoid smoking and excess alcohol, and to eat less red and processed meat.
Early detection of bowel cancer through bowel screening greatly improves survival rates. It is therefore advisable to see a doctor if there are symptoms such as changes in bowel habit, blood in stools, abdominal pain or lump, unexplained weight loss or tiredness.
Female breast cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide. Anyone can get breast cancer, but it mainly occurs in middle-aged and older women. A small number of women diagnosed with breast cancer are younger than 45.
One of the most common symptoms of breast cancer in women is a lump or swelling in the breast, armpit or chest.
The other symptoms include nipple discharge which can be bloody, a change in size or shape of one or both breasts, change in the usual colour of the skin of breast, a change in the shape or look of the nipple where it could turn inwards, or persistent pain in the breast or armpit.
It should be noted that having these symptoms does not confirm breast cancer as they can be caused by other conditions. Having breast lumps is common, particularly during menstrual cycles, and these lumps are usually benign and harmless.
Sometimes breast cancer can spread or metastasise to another part of the body, and this is called secondary breast cancer. This can cause other symptoms, depending on where it has spread.
Breast cancer can spread anywhere, but it most commonly spreads to bones, liver, lungs or brain. So, there may also be symptoms such as unintentional weight loss, reduced appetite, fatigue or lack of energy, nausea or vomiting, or sleep difficulties.
The exact cause of breast cancer is not fully understood. Certain factors increase the risk of developing breast cancer, and these include being over the age of 50, having dense breast tissue, and having an existing breast condition like benign breast disease, ductal carcinoma in situ or lobular carcinoma in situ.
Having positive family history of breast or ovarian cancer or carrying a faulty BRCA gene can significantly increase the risk of developing breast cancer. BRCA stands for BReast CAncer gene and a faulty BRCA gene is found in some people, and it is associated with developing breast cancer.
The risk of breast cancer may also be increased if periods start before the age of 12 or menopause occurs after 55, if a woman has not given any birth, or if a woman did not breastfeed her children.
Studies show that many breast cancers are also linked to lifestyle like smoking.
If breast cancer is suspected, it is recommended to see a breast specialist for further assessment and various tests. The assessment and tests may include an examination of the breasts, mammogram, ultrasound scan of the breast, and taking a small sample or biopsy from the breast to check for cancer.
If the tests confirm the presence of breast cancer, there are various treatments available that can be considered. The treatment depends on the size and type of breast cancer, its exact location, if it has spread to other parts of the body, and the person’s general health.
The main treatment for breast cancer is surgery. Other treatments are usually required and these include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, specialised medicines and immunotherapy.
The type of surgery depends on the size of the cancer and if it has spread. If the cancer is small and has not spread, surgery can be localised and aimed at removing only the area of the breast with cancer.
If the cancer is larger and there are signs of spread, surgery may be necessary to remove the whole breast which is called mastectomy. It is common to remove lymph nodes in the armpit as part of the surgery as breast cancer often spreads to these nodes.
Women who have had a mastectomy may choose to have breast reconstruction, where the breast surgeon makes a new breast from tissue taken from other parts of the body.
Some women may require chemotherapy before the surgery to help make the cancer smaller. Chemotherapy may also be required after surgery if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or if it is fast growing cancer.
Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill cancer cells, whereas radiotherapy uses radiation to kill cancer cells. Radiotherapy may be necessary after surgery to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
Since some breast cancers are affected by different hormones, hormone therapy may be used before surgery to help make the cancer smaller, or after surgery to lower the chance of cancer coming back. Hormone therapy may also be used if surgery is not tolerated.
Specialised medicines kill cancer cells, and immunotherapy uses body’s own immune system to kill cancer cells. These can be used before and after surgery, or if surgery is not an option.
It is not always possible to prevent breast cancer, but regular check ups and breast screening with a mammogram can help detect cancer at an early stage before it spreads. Regular self-examination of the breasts is also important to see if there are any unusual changes.
The chances of developing breast cancer can be lowered by avoiding smoking and excess alcohol, and by losing weight if overweight or obese. If there is a positive family history, genetic testing to check for BRCA gene may be necessary.
Lung cancer is one of the most common and deadliest cancers worldwide.
It is strongly associated with smoking. The other risk factors are environmental toxins and genetic factors.
The main types of lung cancer are non-small-cell lung cancer or NSCLC, which is more common, and small-cell lung cancer or SCLC, which is more aggressive.
There are usually no signs or symptoms in the early stages of lung cancer. The symptoms eventually develop over time, and these include a persistent cough, persistent breathlessness, coughing up blood, unintentional weight loss, tiredness, and chest pain or ache when coughing or breathing.
Lung cancer can develop in one of the lungs and this is called primary lung cancer. Sometimes cancer can spread to the lungs from another place in the body and this is known as secondary lung cancer.
Non-small-cell lung cancer accounts for up to 85 % of lung cancer cases. It is subdivided into squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or large-cell carcinoma.
Small-cell lung cancer is less common, but it is more aggressive and can spread faster than non-small-cell lunger cancer.
Lung cancer usually affects older people, and it is less common in people under the age of 40.
Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, accounting for more than 70 % of cases. Smoking involves breathing in various toxic substances which are thought to be carcinogenic.
It should be noted that people who have never smoked can also develop lung cancer, but this is less common.
The treatment for lung cancer depends on the type of lung cancer present, how far it has spread or metastasised, and the general health of the person.
If the cancer is small and it is detected early without it having a chance to spread, surgery can be considered to remove the part of the lung where cancer is located.
If surgery is not an option for any reason, radiotherapy can be used to kill the cancerous cells in the lung.
If lung cancer has spread too far for surgery and radiotherapy to work, chemotherapy can be considered to destroy the cancer cells.
There are specialised medicines called targeted therapies that can be used for the treatment of lung cancer. These therapies do not cure lung cancer, but they can help slow its spread.
Immunotherapy may also be used in the treatment of lung cancer where it boosts the immune system to fight cancer.
The outlook for lung cancer is not very good as most people do not show any noticeable symptoms until the cancer has spread through the lungs or into other parts of the body. It is therefore very important to detect lung cancer as early as possible so that the appropriate treatment can be started.
For a person who smokes, the best way to prevent lung cancer is to stop smoking as soon as possible, regardless of how long they have been smoking. Quitting smoking greatly decreases the risk of getting lung cancer.
A healthy, balanced diet is highly recommended as studies suggest that eating a low-fat, high-fibre diet, including fresh fruit and vegetables and plenty of wholegrains, can reduce the risk of lunger cancer.
There is also some evidence to show that regular exercise and being active may reduce the risk of getting lung cancer, particularly in people who smoke or used to smoke.
It is advisable to see a doctor in person for further assessment if there is a persistent cough or breathlessness, coughing up blood, unusual weight loss or tiredness, or chest pain when coughing.
Prostate cancer only affects men, and it is one of the most common cancers in the world.
It develops when there is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the prostate gland.
Prostate gland is a small gland that forms part of the male reproductive system. It is located just below the bladder and surrounds the urethra. It produces a thick white fluid that forms part of the semen.
Prostate cancer usually develops slowly without causing symptoms in the early stages, so there may not be any signs for many years. However, some cases can be more aggressive and spread to other parts of the body.
The exact cause of prostate cancer is not fully known. There are certain risk factors that increase the chances of developing prostate cancer. These include being over the age of 50, certain ethnicities, positive family history in father or brother, and obesity.
The common symptoms of prostate cancer are an increased need to urinate, difficulty or straining when urinating, and a feeling that bladder is not fully emptied after passing urine.
It should be noted that these symptoms can also be caused by enlarged prostate gland and not just by prostate cancer.
There are various tests that can be used to confirm either benign enlarged prostate gland or prostate cancer. There is currently no single test to diagnose prostate cancer.
The common tests used for prostate cancer are digital rectal examination to examine the prostate gland physically, blood tests, MRI scan, and a biopsy from prostate gland.
The blood test for prostate cancer is known as PSA or prostate-specific antigen. This test can help detect early prostate cancer. It is usually offered to men over the age of 50, and the guidelines can vary from country to country.
A positive PSA test alone is not enough to diagnose prostate cancer as it can also be raised by other, non-cancerous conditions. If PSA level is raised, an MRI scan is usually considered to assess the prostate gland, and a biopsy may be taken to confirm the diagnosis.
If prostate cancer is confirmed, active treatment is not always required. If the cancer is at an early stage and it is slow-growing and not causing symptoms, this may be managed with ‘watchful waiting’ approach and regular monitoring.
If active treatment is required, this depends on the stage of the cancer, overall health, and patient preference.
Some cases of prostate cancer can be cured if treated in the early stages. Treatments include surgically removing the prostate gland in a procedure called prostatectomy, and radiotherapy with or without hormone therapy. Hormone therapy reduces testosterone levels to slow cancer growth.
Chemotherapy may be needed if the cancer has spread beyond the prostate gland. Targeted therapies and immunotherapy may also be considered in some cases.
Early detection of prostate cancer through PSA blood tests and regular check-ups improves treatment success. It is advisable to see a doctor in person if there are new, persistent urinary symptoms.
Stomach cancer is cancer that affects the stomach, and it can develop anywhere in the stomach.
It is more common in certain regions of the world like East Asia, and this is thought to be related to Helicobacter Pylori infection and diet.
The exact underlying cause of stomach cancer is not fully understood, and anyone can get it.
There are factors that can increase the risk of developing stomach cancer, and these include being over the age of 50, male gender, and chronic infection with Helicobacter Pylori bacteria. The other risk factors are positive family history of stomach cancer, certain stomach conditions such as chronic acid reflux, gastritis or pernicious anaemia, certain lifestyles, and smoking.
The symptoms of stomach cancer can include acid reflux or heartburn, nausea or vomiting, difficulty swallowing, feeling full very quickly when eating, loss of appetite, weight loss, upper abdominal pain or lump, and fatigue.
The gold standard test to detect stomach cancer is a type of endoscopy called gastroscopy which involves looking inside the stomach with a probe and camera. A small sample or biopsy may be collected during this procedure to confirm if there is stomach cancer.
Once stomach cancer has been confirmed, more tests may be required to find out the size of the cancer and if it has spread to other parts of the body. These tests are an ultrasound scan, a CT scan or a PET scan. Sometimes a small operation called laparoscopy may be necessary to look inside the stomach.
All of these tests help to determine the best treatment for the patient, which depends on the type and size of the cancer, its exact location, if it has spread, and general health of the patient.
The treatment options are surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted medicines and immunotherapy.
If stomach cancer is found early and it has not spread much, surgery can be considered to remove it. Depending on the type of cancer, surgery may involve removing part or all of the stomach and parts of other organs around the stomach.
Chemotherapy uses special medicines to kill cancer cells, and this can be used before and after surgery to help make the cancer smaller, and after surgery to help stop the cancer coming back.
Radiotherapy uses radiation to kill cancer cells, and this can be used with chemotherapy to help stop the cancer coming back. It can also be used to help control the symptoms of advanced cancer.
Targeted medicines are specialised drugs that help to stop the cancer from growing. Immunotherapy uses special medicines to help the immune system kill cancer.
The risk of getting stomach cancer can be reduced by having a healthy lifestyle, avoiding smoking and excess alcohol, losing weight if overweight, reducing the amount of salt consumed, and by eating at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.