Colon cancer (or colorectal) takes the life of someone in the UK every 30 minutes, yet it is one of the most treatable of cancers if it is caught early enough. Generally, the earlier colon cancer is detected the better the chance of cure, with eight out of ten cases being successfully treated. Nowadays, around half of all patients with bowel cancer are cured.
Colon cancer is the second biggest cause of deaths from cancer in the UK after lung cancer, with c.30,000 new cases and over 16,000 deaths each year. In men only lung and prostate cancers are more prevelant.
The most important risk factors for colon cancer are age, being over weight or obese, lack of physical activity, and a diet high in red and processed meat and fat and low in fibre, vegatables and folate. Smoking may increase the risk of bowel cancer, particularly in heavy drinkers, especially in those with low levels of folate in their diet. At least half an hour of moderate exercise five times a week can help lower the likelihood of the disease developing.
Despite its prevelance, colon cancer is one of the cancers that people are reluctant to talk about. It is involves bowel movements and stools – not something that readily comes up in ‘polite conversation’, but the more we talk about it and raise awareness of it, the more cases may be detected earlier. Lives may be saved simply by people seeking help from their doctor.
One of the people that colon cancer has taken is Paul Daisley. Many of you may remember Paul who was the MP for Brent East at the time of his death in June 2003. Paul was only 45 years old. Before becoming an MP, Paul was involved in local government as a councillor on Brent Council. He was elected in 1990 and in 1994 became leader of the Labour Group. Paul was the Leader of the Council from 1996 until 2001.
During this time Paul was a typical politician, with meetings at all time of the day and night, moving from one to the next with hardly time to take a break. He loved the hard work and being in a position to effect peoples lives in a positive way. He was always a very gregarious man who loved the cut and thrust of the political arena, as well as the personal contact with people of all types that he met in the course of this work.
His commitment to helping others was so often demonstrated in the hard work he undertook to improve the lives of people in Brent and in the wider community.
This life style meant that his daily life lacked a routine so common to most, with meals or snacks being taken whenever he could, often late at night and in a rush. This may have meant that Paul did not notice the signs of the cancer that was growing inside him. Some of the symptoms of colon cancer could so easily be put down to irregular eating habits and eating foods that one may not be used to!
One of the ways to reduce the risk of cancer is to eat a regular, healthy, balanced diet that is high in fibre, fruit and vegetables, and low in red and processed meat and saturated fat. Taking regular exercise is strongly recommended; just 30 minutes three times a week. This can be difficult when leading a hectic life however 1 1/2 hours each week cannot be too difficult to fit in.
Paul did not notice the symptoms of this terrible disease until he had a blockage in his bowel. The tumour caused the bowel to burst and after a long recovery Paul was given the all clear. It was almost two years after the discovery of the blockage, that he was told that he had terminal cancer with only three months to live.
It was indicative of Paul’s character that he carried on working, representing his consituents, right up to the time of his death six months later.
In this same spirit The Paul Daisley Trust was formed after his death, with the primary aims to raise awareness of colon cancer and to help people out of hospital and back into their own homes. Before this experience we had no knowledge or awareness colon cancer. It was during Paul’s illness we also learned of the difficulties and vital support required to organise what should be right of all - to be cared for in their own homes.
Paul was a wonderful advertisement for life; he enjoyed his to the full and was able to achieve so many of his personal goals, with no regrets or ‘what if’s’.
Our message is to simply be aware of your own health and if you are given the opportunity, please support any innitiative that will help to improve the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer.
For further information visit www.CancerResearchUK.org
Sources – Cancer Research UK, Department of Health