Latest news with #bowelCancer
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Top doctor reveals life-saving trio of daily foods that could ward off bowel cancer
A top doctor has detailed the cheap store cupboard essentials that can dramatically boost fibre intake—a key way to beat bowel cancer, according to experts. In an Instagram video, viewed 1.1 million times, Dr Karan Rajan, a surgeon working in NHS hospitals, dubbed his simple method 'fibermaxxing'. He said: 'If you want easy ways to fibermaxx with stuff you already have in your kitchen, I am going to show you just how simple it is.' Research shows that fibre—the indigestible parts of plants that aid digestion—plays a key role in preventing bowel cancer. Bowel Cancer UK estimates that a lack of the nutrient is behind 28 per cent of all cases in the UK—yet just nine per cent of adults eat the recommended 30g a day. The doctor suggests eating a combination of ingredients that are each five grams worth of fibre. The list he provides includes: 50g of pistachios or almonds, 80g of raspberries, 100g of frozen peas, 100g of hummus, 50g of dark chocolate and 75 grams of lentils. He also recommends fruits like an apple, avocado or a pear a day to boost fibre intake, adding: 'Combining any three for a fibre rich meal would be 15g of fibre.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr Karan Rajan (MRCS MBBS BSc) (@drkaranrajan) He continues: 'When you stack fibre like this you are [also] getting it from three different sources all of which provide different phytonutrients, polyphenols and prebiotic fibres. 'These all have different impacts on your gut microbiome and their own special skill set.' Fibre is a type of carbohydrate in plants, but unlike sugar and starch it isn't absorbed by the body. Instead, it keeps the gut healthy and functioning properly. The nutrient is found in wholegrain cereals, beans, pulses, nuts, seeds, and fruit and vegetables. Research published earlier this year by experts at the University of California San Diego suggested that E-coli infections—a foodborne infection that damages the gut— is behind the rise in bowel cancer cases. Experts have previously told the Mail on Sunday that fibre could help protect against the infection blamed for the rise in cases. Dr Alasdair Scott, a gut specialist and science director at Selph—a health-testing firm —says high fibre intake is one of the few ways to counteract harmful in the gut. 'There's not much people can do if the bacteria does contribute to early onset colon cancer,' he says. 'But we do know that a high-fibre diet can protect against the type of mutation that causes tumours to develop.' Bowel cancer is on the rise in younger adults, even as rates fall among older generations. People born in 1990 are three times more likely to develop bowel cancer than those born in the 1950s, according to global research. In the UK, the disease kills nearly 17,000 people a year. While the vast majority of cases still occur in over-50s, around five per cent now affect adults aged 25 to 49—and that figure is steadily climbing. The main symptoms include changes in toilet habits, such as softer stools, diarrhoea or constipation. Going more or less often than usual, blood in the stool, or a feeling that you still need to go even after just going, can also be warning signs. Cancer Research UK estimates that more than half—54 per cent—of bowel cancer cases are preventable. Known risk factors include a diet low in fibre, eating too much red or processed meat, and obesity.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Tragedy as dad-of-four, 40, dies just months after he blamed stress for his stomach ache
A DAD passed away months after complaining of stomach pain, which he initially put down to stress. Kyle Ingram-Baldwin's ordeal began in October last year, when he sought his doctor's advice after suffering from a stomach ache for a couple of weeks. 4 4 The dad-of-four, from Minster, Kent, had suspected his pain was stress related, and expected the diagnosis to be gallstones. After his pain got worse, the 40-year-old went to A&E. An ultrasound found bulges on his liver. A CT scan followed, and Kyle was given the devastating diagnosis of bowel cancer. He said: "I didn't think a lot of it, but I thought I'd better get it checked out. "The suspicion at the time was gallstones, which obviously it wasn't. "They told me that I've got cancer that's spread. "I was like, wow, okay. I didn't expect that, but you know, it is what it is." Two weeks later he was told he had stage-four bowel cancer - meaning the disease was at an advanced stage and had spread to other parts of his body. He said: "I was thinking, what's going on here? What have I done wrong? "I was putting the blame on my own feet and worrying about the future for my wife and kids. "That's probably the hardest thing - the mental side. "Don't get me wrong, the physical is not funny either, but it's a mental challenge." The 40-year-old went through six rounds of chemo and another, more targeted course, but these were not able to get the disease - which spread to his liver - under control. Kyle spoke about how his cancer battle had impacted his wife and children aged 12, nine, three and one. 4 4 He shared that he did not want his wife to have to cope on her own, saying he was determined to keep fighting. Kyle said: "It's really hard to put into words, because I love my kids so much. You just worry about their future. "They've got the best mum in the world, and I genuinely mean that. My wife's incredible." On June 8 this year, the dad launched a GoFundMe to help pay for alternative treatments as he was "not prepared to give up" - more than £15,000 was raised in a matter of days. What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer? IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough. While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver. If you notice any of the signs, don't be embarrassed and don't ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems. The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include: Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo A change in your normal toilet habits - going more frequently for example Pain or a lump in your tummy Extreme tiredness Losing weight Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness. In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction. Other signs include: Gripping pains in the abdomen Feeling bloated Constipation and being unable to pass wind Being sick Feeling like you need to strain - like doing a number two - but after you've been to the loo While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools. But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease. The dad said he was "blown away" by the huge sum and that it had given him hope. But Kyle's wife Becky shared that he tragically passed away on June 16, barely a week after launching the fundraiser. In an update on the GoFundMe page, she wrote: "Unfortunately, Kyle took a very sudden and unexpected turn and we lost him yesterday. "He was the most incredible man I have ever met, and I know he would want me to thank everyone for all your sharing and donations. "I wanted to personally thank each and every one of you who donated to try and help Kyle. I'm so sorry we didn't get to. "Thank you to loved ones, friends old and new and complete strangers with huge hearts." 'Go get checked' Becky told donors on June 18 that they would all be receiving a refund. However, after an "overwhelming" number of messages, she set up a new fundraiser to support the family's young children, with more than £2,000 already donated. She added: "As we raised such an incredible amount from so many selfless people, I thought maybe (and it feels so weird and uncomfortable) if people wanted to, once they get refunded, they can gift money to our children. "I don't know if this is the right thing to do, but the amount of messages I've had is just overwhelming. "If you want to give your donation to charity or just make memories with your families, that's what you should do. It didn't feel right for me to make that decision." You can donate to the new fundraiser here. Kyle worked for Automatic Retailing, a wholesale supplier for vending machines, and helped run the Men's Mental Health Support Talking Football project in Minster. He wanted to encourage others to get checked out urgently if something doesn't feel right. He added: "I didn't present with any of the conventional symptoms. "If you think anything's wrong, please press your GP and go get it checked, because I genuinely wouldn't want anyone being in my position."
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Father-of-four dies of bowel cancer, aged 40, within months of being diagnosed - the only warning sign was terrifyingly easy to dismiss
A father-of-four whose only sign of deadly bowel cancer was a troubling stomach ache has died, eight months after being told he had the disease. Kyle Ingram-Baldwin, 40, had only just launched a fundraiser on June 8 to pay for alternative treatments as he was 'not prepared to give up'. But in a heartbreaking post on the funding platform his wife Becky confirmed he had died on June 16. 'Unfortunately, Kyle took a very sudden and unexpected turn and we lost him yesterday,' she wrote. 'He was the most incredible man I have ever met, and I know he would want me to thank everyone for all your sharing and donations.' His death comes amid a worrying trend of younger adults being diagnosed with the devastating disease. Mr Ingram-Baldwin, from Minster, Kent, originally sought help from his GP in October after suffering a persistent stomach ache that he suspected was linked to stress or gallstones. But after the pain got worse he ended up attending A&E where scans revealed the true devastating cause. An ultrasound showed worrying bulges on his liver, with a follow-up CT scan confirming these were cancer. Further tests revealed these were secondary growths from a cancer that had originated in his bowel. This meant the disease was already at stage-four, the final and most serious stage. Only 10 per cent of bowel cancer patients diagnosed at stage four are alive five years later, according to Cancer Research UK. Recalling the moment he got the news Mr Ingram-Baldwin said the mental toll was extraordinary. 'I was thinking, what's going on here? What have I done wrong? I was putting the blame on my own feet and worrying about the future for my wife and kids,' he said. 'That's probably the hardest thing-the mental side. 'Don't get me wrong, the physical is not funny either, but it's a mental challenge.' Mr Ingram-Baldwin, who worked for a vending machine supplier, underwent more than half-a-dozen rounds of gruelling chemotherapy. But, unfortunately, this failed to bring the disease under control. Shortly before his death Mr Ingram-Baldwin spoke about how the cancer had impacted his wife, and children aged 12, nine, three and one. 'It's really hard to put into words, because I love my kids so much. You just worry about their future,' he said. 'They've got the best mum in the world, and I genuinely mean that. My wife's incredible.' He urged other patients to not dismiss signs that something isn't right in their bodies. 'I didn't present with any of the conventional symptoms,' he said. 'If you think anything's wrong, please press your GP and go get it checked, because I genuinely wouldn't want anyone being in my position.' Symptoms of the bowel cancer include changes in bowel movements such as diarrhoea or constipation, needing or feeling the need to empty your bowels more or less frequently, blood in stool, stomach pain, bloating, as well as unexpected weight loss and fatigue. Stomach pain like Mr Ingram-Baldwin experienced, a lump in the stomach, bloating and fatigue are also among other common signs. Mr Ingram-Baldwin isn't alone in being hit by a devastating bowel cancer diagnosis as a young adult. Experts have noted a concerning and mysterious rise in rates of the disease among young adults, defined in cancer terms as those under 50. A recent global study found rates of bowel cancer in under 50 year-olds are rising in 27 of 50 nations. England is averaging a 3.6 per cent rise in younger adults every year-one of the highest increases recorded. While the disease is known linked to obesity, experts have noted that the disease also seems to also be occurring in fit and healthy patients. Some experts believe the explanation must lie in environmental factors young people have been exposed to more than previous generations. While no 'smoking gun' has been found, there are multiple theories. These include modern chemicals in diets, microplastics, pollution, and one recent study even pinned the surge on exposure to in food. There are around 2,600 new bowel cancer cases in people aged 25-49 in Britain every year, and around 44,100 new cases among all ages. Around 44,000 cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK, with about 130,000 in the US. The disease kills almost 17,000 Britons each year, with the death toll rising to about 50,000 in America. Overall, just over half of bowel cancer patients are expected to be alive 10 years after their diagnosis. More than £15,000 was raised in Mr Ingram-Baldwin's drive for alternative treatments. Mrs Ingram-Baldwin has now confirmed the amount would now be re-funded to donors. She urged people to consider donating the money to charity or using it to 'make memories with your families'.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
'Healthy' 38 year-old reveals only sign of bowel cancer he noticed in the bathroom - and it wasn't blood in the loo
A father-of-one who was diagnosed with a rare form of bowel cancer has urged others not to dismiss a little-known embarrassing sign of the disease. Dave Paxton, from Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire, began to notice his stools were darker in colour at the beginning of this year. But it was only after a pharmacist asked him a routine question as he was ordering a repeat prescription in February that he flagged the issue. Prompted by the chemist who said 'do you have any other concerns' after requesting anxiety medication, the 38-year-old said he revealed his stool concern, which he would never have visited the doctor to discuss. Referred to the GP, tests days later showed he had duodenal cancer—a rare type of bowel cancer that forms in the small intestine, called the duodenum. A CT scan then revealed he was suffering a grade four squamous cell tumour, meaning it had spread to other parts of his body — specifically his liver and pancreas. A squamous cell tumour of the duodenum, which develops in the lining of the small intestine, is so rare Mr Paxton reportedly accounts for one of just 22 cases confirmed worldwide to date. Doctors, however, cannot give him a prognosis and he is currently undergoing gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy to prevent the tumour from growing. Recalling his heartbreaking diagnosis, Mr Paxton said: 'This is terrifying and the treatment side effects are horrendous, but I'm very grateful to the pharmacist for checking in with me. 'I had noticed but wasn't thinking much of it. 'The diagnosis was such a shock. All I could think about was my son, I just burst into tears. 'But I also knew I had to get on with it. The cancer is so rare they just can't say how long I have, only that they are treating me to prolong my life. 'One of the nurses was so helpful, he just said "you can beat this'", go home and put on music, do the things you enjoy, don't lie down and give up.' There are around 44,000 cases of bowel cancer every year in the UK and 142,000 in the US, making it the fourth most common cancer in both countries. But cases are rising in young people, an alarming trend that experts have linked to modern diets, chemical exposure and lifestyles. Symptoms often include changes in bowel movements such as consistent and new diarrhoea or constipation, needing or feeling the need to poo more or less frequently and blood in the stool. Stomach pain, a lump in the stomach, bloating, unexpected weight-loss and fatigue are among other signs. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their GP for advice. Since his diagnosis in March, Mr Paxton has undergone two months of chemotherapy and has just started radiotherapy. He also requires blood transfusions every four days. He is having his treatment funded through a workplace private health insurance policy. But, given duodenal squamous-cell tumours are so rare, there have been no trials for the success of immunotherapy, so he can't get this treatment on his health insurance or the NHS. He is currently fundraising the £180,000 needed for 24 sessions. To date, he has raised £43,202 on GoFundMe. Mr Paxton said: 'It all feels very scary, and it's a constant and exhausting battle every day. 'They [the doctors] don't know how I got it so young, they just said it's "bad luck".' He added: 'Unless you've been through something like this, you really don't understand how precious life is. 'I just want as much time as I can get with my family.' Mr Paxton's awful ordeal comes as experts continue to warn of a disturbing rise in bowel cancers in under 50s, which has baffled doctors around the globe. The disease, the third most common cancer in the UK, killed Dame Deborah James at age 40 in 2022. Although the vast majority of diagnoses affect those aged over 50, rates in older age-groups has either declined or held stable while diagnoses in younger adults have risen by 50 per cent over the last 30 years. Cancer Research UK estimates that over half (54 per cent) of bowel cancer cases in the UK are preventable.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Warning as over-the-counter drug used by millions is linked to increase risk of bowel cancer
Tracking what over-the-counter medications patients are prescribed could help spot those with early signs of bowel cancer. Studies have previously suggested women often purchased more pain and indigestion drugs in the months prior to an ovarian cancer diagnosis. But a sudden rise in haemorrhoid treatment purchases—such as creams and laxatives—has also been linked to bowel cancer diagnoses. This change in shopping habits happens up to fifteen months before they are told they have the condition, studies show, suggesting people are treating symptoms at home before seeking advice from a GP. Now, in a first-of-its kind study, Cancer Research UK funded research, will identify more patients across the UK with early tell-tale signs of the disease, by looking at their medication history. It's hoped the project could help identify seven other cancers including pancreatic, stomach and lung, at an early stage when treatment is more likely to be effective. It comes amid a rise in bowel cancer striking people in their 20s, 30s and 40s —a phenomenon that has baffled doctors around the world. England has experienced one of the fastest rises in early-onset cases of the disease worldwide, with an average annual increase of 3.6 per cent between 2007 and 2017 among under-50s. Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poo, a change in bowel habit, or a lump inside your bowel which can cause an obstruction. Some people also suffer from weight loss as a result of these symptoms Professor Chris Cardwell, an expert in cancer epidemiology at the University of Belfast, said: 'These changes in specific medications could act as an alert for doctors to consider earlier cancer investigation or point to unrecognised symptom patterns.' Diagnosing cancer early can be life-changing, with more than 90 per cent of bowel cancer patients surviving for five years or more, if diagnosed at the earliest stage. This rate sits at just 10 per cent if the disease is diagnosed at stage four, when the cancer has spread. 'Diagnosing cancer as early as possible is key to ensuring treatment is as effective as possible and give patients the best chance of recovery,' Professor Cardwell added. Previous Danish research has also suggested patients who had more GP appointments for haemorrhoids were more likely to then be diagnosed with bowel cancer roughly a year and a half later. The fresh Cancer Research UK study will focus on eight cancers including bowel, pancreatic, stomach, ovarian, lung, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Prescription data from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank at Swansea University, which works with the NHS, will be studied to identify common treatments given to people who are then diagnosed with the disease. Professor Peter Murchie, another oncologist involved in the study, said: 'We know symptoms of cancer can develop slowly so changes in our prescription data could become a very important early warning signal to prompt busy GPs'. Whilst haemorrhoids—swollen blood vessels in the rectum—is not always a sign of bowel cancer, rectal bleeding is not something to ignore, experts warn. Blood in the stool, can be a sign of bowel cancer, especially if it's dark red or black in colour, causing the stool to look like tar. Other common symptoms include a lump that can be felt in the rectum or abdomen, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, fatigue and breathlessness. This type of cancer can also block the bowel—known as a bowel obstruction—resulting in cramps, bloating, constipation and vomiting. Given that these symptoms may initially be dismissed for digestive issues or piles, many sufferers will seek over-the-counter treatment before seeing a GP, meaning that the cancer is not caught until it has progressed to the later stages. Around 32,000 cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK with another 142,000 in the US. The disease, the third most common cancer in the UK, is the same type that killed Dame Deborah James aged 40 in 2022. Scientists have suggested a host of factors are likely behind the phenomenon—from increased pollution to rising obesity and even invisible particles of plastic in drinking water.
