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A recent study led by Imperial College London and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that increasing levels of folate (vitamin B9) and folic acid in the diet can reduce the risk of bowel cancer by 9%.

The research used data from over 70,000 individuals and examined the impact of folic acid supplementation and food naturally high in folate – such as leafy green vegetables (spinach, rocket), cruciferous vegetables, wholegrains, pulses, and fruit (particularly citrus) – on bowel cancer risk.

“Increasing your vegetable intake is an easy way to increase your intake of folate, with some added health benefits,” says Bowel Cancer Australia’s Nutritionist Jo.

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Over the past three decades, there has been a global increase in bowel cancer incidence and mortality in people aged under 50. 
 
1,716 Australians are diagnosed with bowel cancer under the age of 50 each year. That’s 1-in-9 new bowel cancer cases.  

Bowel cancer is also the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25-44. 

A recent study in Austria published in the JAMA, looked at the prevalence of bowel cancer and precursor (pre-cancerous) lesions in adults under 50 without symptoms. Precursor lesions include serrated lesions, adenomas, and advanced adenomas.  

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According to the SCORE (Shared Care follow-up for colOREctal cancer survivors) trial, led by researchers at the Peter Mac Cancer Centre in Melbourne, bowel cancer patients prefer shared care, where follow-up is shared between a GP and hospital specialist (oncologist). 

This model of care exists in contrast to the usual or standard model of care, where follow-up is exclusively with a hospital specialist. 

The Victorian study has shown that shared care is safe and just as effective as hospital-based care in the follow-up of bowel cancer survivors.  

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What can you do to help us close the gap in bowel cancer care?
 
Sunday, February 4, is World Cancer Day, and we’re calling on you to play your part in creating a bowel cancer-free world. 
 
While we live in a time of awe-inspiring advancements in (bowel) cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment, many who seek cancer care hit barriers at every turn.

This year’s World Cancer Day campaign is all about working together to reimagine a world where millions of preventable cancer deaths are saved and access to life-saving cancer treatment and care is equitable for all. 
 
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Play For Purpose is the ultimate not-for-profit raffle!
 
Every ticket gives you the chance to win awesome prizes, all while supporting Bowel Cancer Australia.
 
Raffle tickets are just $10, with a guaranteed minimum of $5 directly supporting the charity.
 
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A new oral treatment (tablet) called divarasib (GDC-6036) has proven effective in treating metastatic bowel cancer with a KRAS G12C mutation.
 
In a phase 1 trial published in Nature Medicine on 5 December, 62% of people with KRAS G12C mutated bowel cancer achieved a positive response to a combined treatment of divarasib and Erbitux (cetuximab).
 
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A persistent change in bowel habit, especially more frequent and/or loose, diarrhoea-like motions for several weeks is a potential sign of bowel cancer.

Knowing what’s normal (for you), makes it easier to spot any changes in your bowel habit.

However, if a change lasts for more than two weeks, it could be a sign that something isn’t right, and you should discuss it straight away with your GP.
 
Today, for World Toilet Day, we are bringing your attention to the Bristol Stool Chart.
 
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A new Australian study published in The Lancet suggests population-wide genetic screening for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, familial hypercholesterolemia and Lynch syndrome, in people aged 18 to 40, would be cost effective and save lives.
 
Currently, around one in 75 people are at high genetic risk of one of these conditions, yet most are unaware of the risk or implications.
 
Experts at Monash University simulated a model of 8.3 million adults (Australia’s population aged 18 to 40) and their lifetime to age 80, assuming 50% would take part in the genetic screening.
 
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Yesterday, the FDA has approved a new oral medicine called Fruzaqla (fruquintinib) for the treatment of patients with previously treated metastatic bowel cancer. 
 
Fruquintinib is a type of targeted therapy that blocks a protein called 'vascular endothelial growth factor receptor' (VEGFR).
 
It is the first chemotherapy-free treatment option to be approved for metastatic bowel cancer in more than a decade, according to Takeda, the drug’s manufacturer. 
 
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