Bowel Cancer: The Facts

9780192617880

0192617885

Bowel cancer is the second-commonest malignant cause of death in the Western world, partly due to low public awareness of the symptoms and of the possibility of cure if the disease is treated early. For this reason, and because the quality of life that most patients can expect following treatment has greatly improved, this book provides the general public with detailed and clear information about the disease. Bowel cancer can be prevented by recognition and careful surveillance of those at high risk, and some early cancer patients can be cured as out-patients. More is being learned about the causes and natural history of bowel cancer; constituents of the 'Western' diet have been identified which may well play a part in the development of the disease. There are now ways of diagnosing bowel cancer before symptoms have developed, and new forms of treatment can supplement the effects of surgery. This work gives an up-to-date account of the present picture and also aims to remove the taboo which surrounds discussion of bowel cancer. Improved public awareness of the condition will improve the outlook for patients.