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The Guardian
3 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
What are the early signs of bowel cancer? And how can young Australians get tested for it?
Australia is in the unenviable position of having the highest rates of bowel cancer in people under 50 in the world. The perception it is an 'older person's disease' is being overturned. Rates in those over 50 have declined in Australia, while early-onset cases in people under 50 are rising by up to 8% a year. It is the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25 to 44, and the risk of being diagnosed in Australia under the age of 40 has more than doubled since 2000. Experts say they still do not know what has prompted Australians born in the 1990s to be diagnosed at three times the rate of those born in the 1950s. Nevertheless, they say it's important to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms among young people which are often easily dismissed. The most common signs and symptoms of early-onset bowel cancer are blood in the stool, abdominal pain, a change in bowel habits and unexplained weight loss. Bowel Cancer Australia says people should not delay talking to their GP if they are experiencing any of these symptoms for two weeks or more – when diagnosed early, almost 99% of cases can be successfully treated. Although many of the symptoms are common to multiple health concerns, Bowel Cancer Australia urges people not to accept 'you're too young to have bowel cancer' as an explanation for symptoms, and to ask for further investigations. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email A colorectal surgeon and Bowel Cancer Australia's medical director, Associate Prof Graham Newstead, says some people experience no symptoms. The most obvious symptoms tend to emerge as the growth in the bowel from polyp to cancer becomes large enough to partially block the bowel. Thisresults in a change in bowel habit 'that's more than the dinner you ate last night upsetting you'. There are key barriers to early detection – a lack of symptom awareness and stigma among them. Bowel Cancer Australia's chief executive, Julien Wiggins, says the organisation has tried to overcome people's 'taboo around checking their poo'by partnering with Kleenex to create a roll that reminds them to do so. Screening is able to detect small amounts of blood in the stool which has leaked from growths in the bowel – even if you can't see it yourself. The government's national screening program sends at-home test kits to in the mail to every Australian every two years starting from age 50. That runs up until age 74. Since July 2024, 45- to 49-year-olds can opt in to request the test for free, and then will start receiving it every two years. People aged 40 to 44 can go to their GP and request a test. For people under 40, tests have to be bought out of pocket but Bowel Cancer Australia is advocating for lowering the screening age in response to the increasing rates of bowel cancer in younger people. If a test comes back positive, or people notice any other symptoms such as a lump or swelling in the abdomen or extreme tiredness for no reason, they should follow up with a GP who can refer them to get a colonoscopy. Age, family history, hereditary conditions and personal health history can all influence bowel cancer risk – they're known as 'non-modifiable' risk factors because they cannot be changed. There are also modifiable risk factors which can be controlled, including diet and lifestyle choices, as well as screening and surveillance. Alcohol, smoking, eating too much red meat or processed meats and having increased body fat are known to increase risk. One study of more than 540,000 women has found that each 20g of alcohol a day – about the amount found in a large glass of wine – was linked to a 15% higher risk of bowel cancer, while each 30g of red and processed meat a day was linked to an 8% increase in risk of the disease. That same study found each daily 300mg of calcium, about the amount found in half a pint of milk, was associated with a 17% lower risk of bowel cancer – the same decrease Bowel Cancer Australia says is associated with eating at least 90g of wholegrains a day, such as brown rice or wholemeal bread. Recreational physical activity can reduce risk of colon (not rectal) cancer by 16%. Bowel Cancer Australia recommends including dairy products such as low-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese in your daily diet, or considering calcium supplements if you are lactose-intolerant, as well as filling two-thirds or more of your plate with wholegrains, vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts to get more dietary fibre.
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Medicinal cannabis prescribing practices under scrutiny
Medicinal cannabis access in Australia was hard won by high profile lobbyists seeking to help terminally and chronically ill patients as an option of last resort. Now it's become big business with record numbers of scripts being written by doctors working for a growing number of telehealth companies. A 7.30 investigation has found some are being pressured to prescribe. National Health Reporter Elise Worthington and producer Emily Jane Smith have this exclusive report.
SBS Australia
12-05-2025
- Health
- SBS Australia
INTERVIEW: CEO of Palliative Care Australia
Camilla Rowland is the CEO of Palliative Care Australia and has worked in the Australian health and community service sectors for more than thirty years. She's talking to SBS's Jennifer Scherer.
Medscape
12-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Multiple Comorbidities Can Have Big Impact on SSc Outcomes
In a cohort of 2000 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), 20% were found to have multimorbidity, primarily driven by cardiovascular disease and other important cardiovascular risk factors. The presence of multimorbidity was linked to reduced survival rates and impaired physical function. METHODOLOGY: Researchers aimed to determine the frequency and prognostic impact of multimorbidity in 2000 patients with SSc (median age at SSc onset , 47.4 years; 85.4% women) from the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study. Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores were calculated at each visit for all participants, with multimorbidity defined as having a CCI score of ≥ 4. Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index scores were collected every year during study visits, whereas data on demographics, disease, and medication use were collected at each visit. The median duration of SSc at recruitment was 7.1 years, and the median follow-up duration was 4.2 years. TAKEAWAY: During the follow-up period, multimorbidity was observed in 20.1% of participants at a median of 12 years after the onset of SSc; the key comorbidities were hypertension (80.5%), dyslipidemia (67.2%), obstructive lung disease (50.4%), malignancy (48.9%), and ischemic heart disease (40.1%). The presence of multimorbidity increased the risk for death by 57% (hazard ratio [HR], 1.57; P < .01), with chronic kidney disease showing the strongest association with mortality (HR, 2.41; P < .01), followed by left ventricular dysfunction (HR, 1.76; P < .01). < .01), with chronic kidney disease showing the strongest association with mortality (HR, 2.41; < .01), followed by left ventricular dysfunction (HR, 1.76; < .01). Having multimorbidity was also associated with poorer physical function ( P < .01), with peripheral vascular disease having the largest impact on physical function, followed by left ventricular dysfunction. IN PRACTICE: 'These data suggest a role for aggressive management of comorbid cardiac and renal disease to potentially improve outcomes in SSc,' the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Jessica L. Fairley, MBBS, The University of Melbourne and St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, both in Melbourne, Australia. It was published online on April 21, 2025, in ACR Open Rheumatology . LIMITATIONS: The CCI was modified for application to the database as not all variables were available for analysis, including depression, cellulitis, liver disease, peptic ulcer disease, hemiplegia, HIV/AIDS, and dementia. This likely resulted in underestimating the frequency of multimorbidity in the cohort. Additionally, the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study exhibits a degree of survivor bias, where more severely ill individuals may not survive to recruitment. DISCLOSURES: The Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study was supported by Janssen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Scleroderma Australia, and other sources. Some authors reported receiving grants, payments, honoraria, consulting fees, and travel support from, and having other ties with various pharmaceutical companies including the funding agencies.
