Signs and Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer

Are You at Risk of Colorectal Cancer?

• Inflammatory bowel diseases include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is not an inflammatory bowel disease.
• Intestinal polyps are non-cancerous growths in the bowel wall that can turn into cancer.
• The FIT test (Faecal Immunochemical Test) checks for blood in the stools.

Under 50 Years Old

• No family history of colorectal cancer
• No inflammatory bowel disease
  • Low Risk
    Look before you flush to check for signs of colorectal cancer.
• With a family history of colorectal cancer and/or Inflammatory bowel disease.
  • At-Risk
    Look before you flush to check for signs of colorectal cancer.
    Speak to your family doctor about when you should start screening

Over 50 Years Old

• No family history of colorectal cancer
• No inflammatory bowel disease
• No intestinal polyps
  • At-Risk
    Look before you flush to check for signs of colorectal cancer.
    Do the FIT test every year to check for blood in stools.
• With a family history of colorectal cancer and/or inflammatory bowel disease and/or intestinal polyps.
  • High Risk
    Look before you flush to check for signs of colorectal cancer.
    Do the FIT test every year to check for blood in stools.
    Ask your doctor for advice on further screening.

Eat Your Way to Better Bowel Health To Prevent Colorectal Cancer

Get in Shape

• Obesity increases the risk of colorectal cancer

Eat 2 Portions of Fruits + 2 Portions of Veggies

• 3/4 mug / 100g cooked vegetables
• 150g raw leafy vegetables
• 1 small apple, orange or pear(130g)
• 1 wedge of watermelon, papaya or pineapple(130g)

Go For Wholegrains and Beans

Limit Red Meat Consumption

• Eat less than 500g of cooked red meat in a week.
• That's less than 5 palm-sized portions of red meat weekly
• Eating 100g of red meat every day increases your risk of colorectal cancer by 17%

Cut Down Processed Meats

• Eating 50g of processed meat every day increases your risk of colorectal cancer by 18%

Limit Your Alcohol

Male: No more than 2 standard drinks a day
Female: No more than 1 standard drink a day

• 330ml - 1 can regular beer
• 175ml - 1/2 glass wine
• 35ml - 1 nip spirits

Download the HealthHub app on Google Play or Apple Store to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.

Read these next:

• Brown Rice Benefits
• High Fibre for a Fit and Fabulous You
• Screen for Colorectal Cancer the FIT Way
• Fill Up on Fruits (and Vegetables)