Menu
27/10/2010
Lifestyle Tips Could Prevent Bowel Cancer Cases
A new study, published today by the British Medical Association, reveals that almost a quarter of colorectal (bowel) cancer cases could be prevented if people followed healthy lifestyle advice in five areas including diet and exercise.
Researchers from Denmark found that following recommendations on physical activity, waist circumference, smoking, alcohol and diet could reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer by 23%. Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK where more than 38,600 people are diagnosed with the condition every year. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK, killing more than 16,250 people each year.
There is much evidence that implicates modifiable lifestyle factors such as smoking, physical activity, body composition, alcohol and diet. The Danish researchers wanted to study the link between following healthy lifestyle advice and risk of bowel cancer in middle-aged people. They also wanted to find out the proportion of bowel cancer cases that might be linked to lack of adherence to the advice.
They studied data on 55,487 men and women aged 50-64 (bowel cancer is rare amongst people under 40) not previously diagnosed with cancer. The people were studied over almost ten years up to 2006.
All participants filled in a lifestyle questionnaire including questions about social factors, health status, reproductive factors and lifestyle habits as well as a food frequency questionnaire developed to assess average intake over twelve months.
The researchers created a healthy lifestyle index using internationally accepted public health recommendations from the World Health Organisation, World Cancer Research Fund and the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations.
These included being physically active for at least 30 minutes a day, having no more than seven drinks a week for women and 14 drinks a week for men, being non-smoker, having a waist circumference below 88 cm for women and 102 cm for men and consuming a healthy diet.
During the follow-up period, 678 people were diagnosed with bowel cancer.
After looking at how the participants managed to keep to each of the five lifestyle recommendations, the researchers calculated that if all participants (except the healthiest) had followed even one additional recommendation, it was possible that 13% of the bowel cancer cases could have been prevented.
If all participants had followed all five recommendations, then 23% of the bowel cancer cases could have been avoided.
The researchers commented: “Our study reveals that even modest differences in lifestyle might have a substantial impact on colorectal cancer risk and emphasises the importance of continuing vigorous efforts to convince people to follow the lifestyle recommendations.”
(BMcN/GK)
Researchers from Denmark found that following recommendations on physical activity, waist circumference, smoking, alcohol and diet could reduce the risk of developing bowel cancer by 23%. Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK where more than 38,600 people are diagnosed with the condition every year. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK, killing more than 16,250 people each year.
There is much evidence that implicates modifiable lifestyle factors such as smoking, physical activity, body composition, alcohol and diet. The Danish researchers wanted to study the link between following healthy lifestyle advice and risk of bowel cancer in middle-aged people. They also wanted to find out the proportion of bowel cancer cases that might be linked to lack of adherence to the advice.
They studied data on 55,487 men and women aged 50-64 (bowel cancer is rare amongst people under 40) not previously diagnosed with cancer. The people were studied over almost ten years up to 2006.
All participants filled in a lifestyle questionnaire including questions about social factors, health status, reproductive factors and lifestyle habits as well as a food frequency questionnaire developed to assess average intake over twelve months.
The researchers created a healthy lifestyle index using internationally accepted public health recommendations from the World Health Organisation, World Cancer Research Fund and the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations.
These included being physically active for at least 30 minutes a day, having no more than seven drinks a week for women and 14 drinks a week for men, being non-smoker, having a waist circumference below 88 cm for women and 102 cm for men and consuming a healthy diet.
During the follow-up period, 678 people were diagnosed with bowel cancer.
After looking at how the participants managed to keep to each of the five lifestyle recommendations, the researchers calculated that if all participants (except the healthiest) had followed even one additional recommendation, it was possible that 13% of the bowel cancer cases could have been prevented.
If all participants had followed all five recommendations, then 23% of the bowel cancer cases could have been avoided.
The researchers commented: “Our study reveals that even modest differences in lifestyle might have a substantial impact on colorectal cancer risk and emphasises the importance of continuing vigorous efforts to convince people to follow the lifestyle recommendations.”
(BMcN/GK)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
24 July 2007
Cancer test kit 'could lead to 20,000 fewer deaths'
Deaths from bowel cancer could be dramatically reduced if people use a self-testing kit being sent to people in their sixties throughout the country, a cancer charity has predicted.
Cancer test kit 'could lead to 20,000 fewer deaths'
Deaths from bowel cancer could be dramatically reduced if people use a self-testing kit being sent to people in their sixties throughout the country, a cancer charity has predicted.
04 April 2013
Uncertainty Over Cancer Care Fund
Cancer charities have warned that thousands of cancer patients face uncertainty over future access to life-extending drugs when a cash pot ends next year. The £200m-a-year Cancer Drugs Fund allows patients in England to access drugs approved by their doctors, but which have not been cleared for widespread use on the NHS.
Uncertainty Over Cancer Care Fund
Cancer charities have warned that thousands of cancer patients face uncertainty over future access to life-extending drugs when a cash pot ends next year. The £200m-a-year Cancer Drugs Fund allows patients in England to access drugs approved by their doctors, but which have not been cleared for widespread use on the NHS.
12 September 2011
Bowel Cancer Death Rates Must Not Be Ignored Warns Charity
Figures issued today by Beating Bowel Cancer reveal that bowel cancer death rates vary significantly across the UK, depending on where you live. These latest statistics released by the charity show that there is a three-fold variation in bowel cancer death rates between the best and worst performing areas across the UK.
Bowel Cancer Death Rates Must Not Be Ignored Warns Charity
Figures issued today by Beating Bowel Cancer reveal that bowel cancer death rates vary significantly across the UK, depending on where you live. These latest statistics released by the charity show that there is a three-fold variation in bowel cancer death rates between the best and worst performing areas across the UK.
24 August 2010
Cancer Drug Too Expensive For NHS
Campaigners say they have been let down after a health watchdog refused a life saving drug for bowel cancer to be available on the NHS. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) rejected Roche's drug Avastin (bevacizumab), which can help patients with advanced bowel cancer, claiming it was too expensive.
Cancer Drug Too Expensive For NHS
Campaigners say they have been let down after a health watchdog refused a life saving drug for bowel cancer to be available on the NHS. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) rejected Roche's drug Avastin (bevacizumab), which can help patients with advanced bowel cancer, claiming it was too expensive.
30 July 2007
Alcohol 'Boosts Bowel Cancer Risk'
Drinking a daily pint of beer or a large glass of wine increases your risk of bowel cancer by around 10% and the more you drink, the higher the risk, a report by Cancer Research UK has warned.
Alcohol 'Boosts Bowel Cancer Risk'
Drinking a daily pint of beer or a large glass of wine increases your risk of bowel cancer by around 10% and the more you drink, the higher the risk, a report by Cancer Research UK has warned.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
