Hello and welcome to the Zero to Finals podcast. My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to be

talking to you about bowel cancer. And you can find written notes on this topic at zero to finals.com

slash bowel cancer or in the general surgery section of the zero definals surgery book. So let's get

straight into it. Boul cancer is the fourth most prevalent cancer in the UK behind breast, prostate and

lung cancer. Boul cancer usually refers to cancer of the colon or the rectum. Small bowel and anal cancers are less common.

First let's talk about risk factors. There are a number of factors that increase the risk

of colorectal cancer, and these are a family history of bowel cancer, familial adenomatous

polyposis, or FAP, hereditary non-poliposis colorectal cancer or h npcc which is also known as lynch syndrome

inflammatory bowel disease for example crones or ulcerative colitis increasing age diet particularly high in red meat and processed meats, and low in

fibre, obesity in a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and alcohol. Familial adenomatose polyposis

or FAP is an autosomal dominant condition which involves malfunctioning of the

tumour suppressor genes called adenomatous polyposis coli or APC. It results in many polyps or adenomas

which develop along the large intestines. These polyps have the potential to become cancerous, usually before the age of 40.

Patients have their entire large intestines removed prophylactically to prevent the development

of bowel cancer, and this is called a panproctomy.

Erreditary non-poliposis colorectal cancer, or HNPCCC, is also known as Lynch syndrome.

This is an autosomal dominant condition as well that results from mutations in the DNA

mismatch repair genes, or MMR genes. Patients are at a high risk of a number of cancers,

particularly colorectal cancer. Unlike in FAP, the patient does not develop adenomas or polyps,

and the tumours will develop in isolation.

Let's talk about the presentation of bowel cancer.

The red flags that should make you consider bowel cancer are a change in bowel habit,

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