Latest news with #Gut
The Independent
31-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Eight ways to reduce your risk of bowel cancer
A new study offers hope for more accurate bowel cancer risk prediction in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The research, funded by Cancer Research UK and published in the journal Gut, demonstrates over 90 per cent accuracy in predicting bowel cancer risk within five years for a high-risk IBD group. Individuals with conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis face a heightened risk of bowel cancer. Current routine screenings detect pre-cancerous growths, indicating a 30 per cent chance of developing bowel cancer within a decade. However, this new study reveals a more precise method. By analysing DNA alterations in pre-cancerous cells using a specialised algorithm, researchers achieved significantly improved predictive accuracy. This breakthrough raises the possibility of a simple blood test to identify high-risk IBD patients, potentially revolutionising early detection and intervention strategies. 'For people without a condition like Crohn's or colitis, there are many lifestyle changes that can help reduce the risk of bowel cancer.' So, here are 8 ways to reduce your risk of bowel cancer. 1. Stop smoking 'Seven out of 100 bowel cancers in the UK are linked to smoking and the risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked a day, so stopping smoking is an important way to reduce your risk,' advises Sturt. 2. Reduce intake of red meat 'Diet plays an important role in the development of the disease,' highlights Sturt. 'Reducing your intake of red and processed meat will help decrease the chance of getting bowel cancer. 'For example, you could swap out beef, sausages and bacon for chicken or fish.' 3. Feed yourself with fibre 'Fibre has many important functions within the bowel, such as increasing the weight and size of your stool and softening it, so it's easier to pass,' explains Dr Dave Nichols, NHS GP and resident doctor for at-home testing provider MyHealthChecked. 'It's crucial to aim for 30g of fibre a day, which is available from wholemeal bread, brown rice, fruit and veg, beans and oats.' 4. Increase calcium intake 'Getting plenty calcium can help decrease the chance of getting bowel cancer,' says Sturt. 'Add milk and dairy to your diet for calcium – or non-dairy alternatives that have calcium added.' 5. Avoid ultra-processed food 'Limiting the intake of ultra-processed food is also important; reduce the intake of things such as crisps, breakfast cereals, sausages, ham, and mass-produced bread,' advises Nichols. 6. Maintain a healthy weight 'Being overweight increases your risk of bowel cancer,' says Sarah Sweenie, health information and evidence manager at Bowel Cancer UK. 'To manage your weight, be mindful of portion sizes, avoid sugary drinks, limit alcohol consumption, and choose healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables.' 7. Limit alcohol consumption 'Alcohol is linked to an increased risk of developing several types of cancer including bowel cancer,' says Sweenie. 'If you do drink alcohol, cutting down the amount you drink will reduce your risk. 'It's recommended that men and women drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week and spread it out over the week. Aim to have at least two alcohol free days a week.' 8. Stay physically active Regular physical activity can help reduce your risk. 'Aim for at least 150 minutes of activity, such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming, each week,' recommends Sweenie. 'This not only helps maintain a healthy weight but also keeps your digestive system healthy. 'If you don't do much physical activity, try starting with 10 minutes and increase the time gradually.'
The Independent
30-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Can I reduce my risk of bowel cancer?
A new study has shown more than 90% accuracy in predicting bowel cancer risk, based on a high-risk group of people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), over the next five years. People with IBD, such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, are known to have an increased chance of developing bowel cancer, but not all will develop it. Routine screenings for pre-cancerous growths in the gut are currently offered to people with IBD and, if found, suggest a 30% chance of developing bowel cancer within 10 years. However, the new study, funded by Cancer Research UK and published in the journal Gut, discovered that DNA alterations in these pre-cancerous cells, when analysed by an algorithm, can predict with more than 90% accuracy who will develop bowel cancer within the next five years. Researchers hope that this method could eventually lead to a straightforward blood test to identify IBD patients who are most at risk. Commenting on this study, Georgia Sturt, research and grants manager at Bowel Research UK said: 'Today's research is an exciting step forward in helping identify people with Crohn's or colitis who are most at risk of bowel cancer, which is important because it can be worrying if pre-cancerous growths are found in routine checks for these patients, as we don't know for sure whether they will develop into cancer. 'For people without a condition like Crohn's or colitis, there are many lifestyle changes that can help reduce the risk of bowel cancer.' So, here are 8 ways to reduce your risk of bowel cancer… 1. Stop smoking 'Seven out of 100 bowel cancers in the UK are linked to smoking and the risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked a day, so stopping smoking is an important way to reduce your risk,' advises Sturt. 2. Reduce intake of red meat 'Diet plays an important role in the development of the disease,' highlights Sturt. 'Reducing your intake of red and processed meat will help decrease the chance of getting bowel cancer. 'For example, you could swap out beef, sausages and bacon for chicken or fish.' 3. Feed yourself with fibre 'Fibre has many important functions within the bowel, such as increasing the weight and size of your stool and softening it, so it's easier to pass,' explains Dr Dave Nichols, NHS GP and resident doctor for at-home testing provider MyHealthChecked. 'It's crucial to aim for 30g of fibre a day, which is available from wholemeal bread, brown rice, fruit and veg, beans and oats.' 4. Increase calcium intake 'Getting plenty calcium can help decrease the chance of getting bowel cancer,' says Sturt. 'Add milk and dairy to your diet for calcium – or non-dairy alternatives that have calcium added.' 5. Avoid ultra-processed food 'Limiting the intake of ultra-processed food is also important; reduce the intake of things such as crisps, breakfast cereals, sausages, ham, and mass-produced bread,' advises Nichols. 6. Maintain a healthy weight 'Being overweight increases your risk of bowel cancer,' says Sarah Sweenie, health information and evidence manager at Bowel Cancer UK. 'To manage your weight, be mindful of portion sizes, avoid sugary drinks, limit alcohol consumption, and choose healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables.' 7. Limit alcohol consumption 'Alcohol is linked to an increased risk of developing several types of cancer including bowel cancer,' says Sweenie. 'If you do drink alcohol, cutting down the amount you drink will reduce your risk. 'It's recommended that men and women drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week and spread it out over the week. Aim to have at least two alcohol free days a week.' 8. Stay physically active Regular physical activity can help reduce your risk. 'Aim for at least 150 minutes of activity, such as brisk walking, cycling, or swimming, each week,' recommends Sweenie. 'This not only helps maintain a healthy weight but also keeps your digestive system healthy. 'If you don't do much physical activity, try starting with 10 minutes and increase the time gradually.'
The Independent
29-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Groundbreaking new test 90% accurate in finding patients at high risk of bowel cancer
Scientists believe a groundbreaking new test may predict patients at high risk of developing bowel cancer with 90 per cent accuracy. Research, published in the journal Gut on Thursday, could lead to blood testing for the thousands of Britons with irritable bowel diseases (IBD) ulcerative colitis or Crohn's who were most at risk of developing bowel cancer, and help avoid some invasive procedures. There are about 500,000 people living in the UK with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's, according to the charity Crohn's and Colitis UK, and bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK according to Cancer Research UK. Director of the centre for evolution and cancer at The Institute of Cancer Research, Professor Trevor Graham, said most people living with those diseases would not develop bowel cancer as a result, but the options for those showing signs of pre-cancer were tough. 'Either they have it monitored regularly, in the hope that it doesn't become cancer, or they have their bowel removed to guarantee they don't get cancer in the future. Neither of these options are particularly pleasant,' he said. 'Crohn's and ulcerative colitis are common and we need better tools to identify the patients at highest risk of bowel cancer.' Scientists from the Institute of Cancer Research worked with St Mark's Hospital to get samples of pre-cancerous cells from 122 patients with IBD. Within five years, about half had developed bowel cancer, and the researchers worked out those whose cancerous cells had lost or gained multiple copies of their DNA were far more likely to develop bowel cancer. The scientists then created an algorithm to calculate the risk of future bowel cancer based on the pattern made by the altered DNA. Prof Graham said: 'Our test and algorithm give people with IBD, and the doctors who care for them, the best possible information so that they can make the right decision about how to manage their cancer risk. We can accurately identify those people at high risk whilst putting the minds of many others at rest.' Craig Foster lost his wife Fariba to bowel cancer in February 2024. She had lived with ulcerative colitis, and had three-quarters of her bowel removed when she was 18. Mr Foster said the research, which was funded by Cancer Research UK and the Barts Charity, had the potential to save others in Fariba's position. 'Cancer takes no prisoners and it doesn't matter who you are or from what walk of life, everyone is affected in some way. Fariba died just six months after she was diagnosed. Even though it was a short time, it was the worst time,' he said. 'Research like this will save lives. It gives me comfort to know that there are scientists working right now so that no-one has to experience the same situation Fariba was in.' Study co-lead Professor Ailsa Hart said the hope was this finding would reduce the need for invasive testing for at-risk patients. "Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than people without IBD, and need to undergo assessment with regular colonoscopies to try to detect early signs of cancer. These tests are onerous and unpleasant for patients, imperfect at detecting early cancer changes and costly to health services,' she said. 'If early signs of cancer are detected, surgery, which involves removing the colon, is advocated. Finding smarter ways to assess these colons is much needed.' Prof Hart, who also leads the inflammatory bowel disease research unit at St Mark's the National Bowel Hospital, said this work could be 'readily translated' into practice and help patients with IBD and early cancer signs make decisions about surgery. Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, Dr Iain Foulkes, said bowel cancer treatment is 'far more likely' to be effective if the disease is caught early. 'With this research, we can focus resources on treating people with IBD who are at really high risk, saving health services valuable time and money. We can also give those at lower risk peace of mind and remove the fear of bowel cancer in the future,' he said.
