Bowel: 5 Year Survival Rates

For the 1st time this century,
more people were diagnosed with bowel cancer (41,596) than lung cancer (39,635). 

The UK's most embarrassing cancer

Stage 1

  • The cancer has grown through the inner lining of the bowel but not into the muscle wall.

  • It has not spread to lymph nodes or distant body parts.

Stage 2

  • The cancer has grown into the outer wall of the bowel or into nearby tissues.

  • It has not spread to lymph nodes or distant parts of the body.

Stage 3

  • The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes but not to distant body parts.

Stage 4 (Metastatic)

  • The cancer has spread to distant body parts, such as the liver or lungs.

Don't be embarrassed to live longer...

Millions of Brits are at increased risk because they are too shy to say, "I have blood in my poo". So, let's try make this simpler by using words that skirt around those embarrassing initial conversations. Your GP will understand and will probe without increasing the embarrassment level.

Try saying something like:  

  • "I found blood where I wasn't expecting to find it"
    [don't mention your bum, or your poo].

  • "I've been having really bad tummy cramps recently".

  • "I have never had problems eating a hot curry, but lately..."

  • "Can I get something stronger that paracetamol please, it's not taking away my tummy pains".

Bowel cancer has one of the lowest survival rates in the country because people are reluctant to talk to a GP about bum / poo issues - which results in delayed diagnosis. From the chart above you can see that stage 4 survival rates are not good. 

This bag is NOT like a Marks & Spencer bag for life...

Living with bowel cancer can be challenging for several reasons:

  • Poo no longer passes through your bum. It passes into a stoma which has to be manually managed.

  • Unlike many other cancers, bowel cancer can result in learning to live with a colostomy or ileostomy bag attached to your abdomen.

  • This bag may be temporary, attached for a while to allow the surgical site to recover without having to deal with 'waste'.
  • This bag may be permanent because your bowel / colon has been removed to prolong your life expectancy.  
  • Living with a bag changes many aspects of life from going to the loo when out and about, to how your sleep routine may need to change to avoid night-time spillage / accidents.

Nobody wants to live with a bag that impacts how you live, but it is a thing that will save your life! 

Stoma life...

Living with a stoma has complications.  It's not so much that you will have a reduced quality of life, it's just that you need to consider some things that previously you would have taken for granted.  

For example:

Food

Food items such as sweetcorn, peas, mushrooms and onions are not easily digested and you may find your bag contains these items in almost the same conditions as on the way in. You need to be aware as some food items may create a blockage. 

Swimming

You will have to take into account a whole new set of issues for getting into a swimming pool with a bag hanging from your tummy. This issues will not only include how you will cope, but also how other swimmers will look at you!

A long car journey

Long car journeys need to take into account where the best disabled toilets can be found. The Radar Key will give you access to over 9,000 disabled toilets in the UK. 

Check here for locations and details.

Flying

Cabin air pressure may play havoc with your stoma, so you may need to reduce you food intake before you fly. Your stoma-bag doesn't stop filling up because the 'return to your seat and fasten your seat belt' sign is switched on!

Sleeping

If you have a bag, over time, you will need to work out what to eat and when so that you minimise how many times you need to wake up overnight to avoid stoma bag mishaps.

Dining out

When you eat out - how stoma bag friendly are the disabled toilets? Do you have enough space to change your bag if need be? Sad to say, but many men's pub toilets are not a great place to do 'bag maintenance'.

Living with a stoma is like living with a dog...

British men rarely carry a bag. A lot of women in the UK don't see it as a problem to carry a bag full of their useful stuff. Look at countries like Italy and France - man-bags are big business.

If you are a good and responsible dog owner, then you must carry poo-bags and pick-up after them. Having a stoma means you also need to carry poo bags, and cleaning materials for when you need to go do bag maintenance. One way of carrying 2 sets of poo related clean up stuff is to have a bag as shown. This man-bag has room for a couple of spare ileostomy / colostomy bags, sprays, wipe, etc., as well dog related material. It also has a useful phone section. Bags like this don't cost a fortune and can be found on Amazon [other online stores are available].

Learning to live with bad-shit...

Not many great websites will share the actual downside of living with bowel cancer! For example, with bowel cancer how do cope when sitting in a restaurant and your bag for life leaks, or (heavens forbid) bursts, and the other diners look over at you with disgust!

Planning is key. Gather all the stuff you need to clean and change your bag, and keep them in a shoulder bag (see above). Learn to always have this bag with you at all times. These bags can also be used to hold your glasses, car keys, etc. and over time will become part of your everyday life.

Things like hernia belts (don't laugh) can also help keep your bag close to your body and in the summer months will help avoid having a 'lump' bulge out from you T shirt.

 

Bowel cancer humour 
you just need to laugh...

You will save an absolute fortune on toilet paper and bum wipes.

You will never argue about whose skid marks are those. 

Chilli Ring Burn will be a thing of the past. All hot chilli food is great. 

Key takeaways...

A recent survey by the British health care group BUPA, found that 35% of Brits don't get bowel cancer symptoms checked because they’re embarrassed. Make an urgent appointment to see your GP if you have:

  • Changing poo habits (constipation, diarrhoea, straining, etc.).

  • Blood in your poo.

  • Blood smears / streaks / spots down the loo pan.

  • Without wishing to sound gross, but you should also check the loo paper after you wipe because that may reveal blood stains that are not always visible down the pan.

Bleeding from your bum is often assumed to be from haemorrhoids, while a change in stools may be put down to IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).  

 

Don't make assumptions, don't be embarrassed...

Assumptions can kill, embarrassment can kill...

Get Tested !