A Red Apple Day to keep bowel cancer away

Every day, 40 Australians are told they have bowel cancer – talking to your doctor, regular bowel screening and plenty of fibre (including from apples) can save you being one of them!

Bowel cancer claims the lives of over 5,000 Australians every year and it is the deadliest form of cancer for people aged 25-44 years old. While the risk increases with age, the disease does not discriminate, affecting people of all ages.

The good news is that  bowel cancer is also one of the most treatable types of cancer, with 99% of cases able to be successfully treated as long as screening detects them early!

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and Wednesday 18^th is Red Apple Day, highlighting the impact of the disease. The campaign raises both awareness and funding for Bowel Cancer Australia, the leading community-funded charity dedicated to the prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment and care – aiming to help anybody affected by bowel cancer to live their best life. It also supports and works alongside the Department of Health national screening program.

What can you do to help beat bowel cancer?

Talk to your doctor about screening and your level of risk. Your risk is based on factors such as family history (30% of bowel cancer cases are hereditary), diet, lifestyle, age and other variables. For anybody with an average or slightly elevated risk, Bowel Cancer Australia and Ochre Health recommend a simple bowel cancer screening test, called a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), every 2 years.

You can also spread the word and raise money for the work of Bowel Cancer Australia, possibly by hosting an apple-themed brunch, morning or afternoon tea, dinner or evening catch-up. These can be either in-person or virtual events, with participation raising funds on the Bowel Cancer Australia platform. Alternatively, you can show your support by buying a Virtual Bowel Cancer Awareness Ribbon to raise awareness, to send to somebody, or to dedicate in remembrance. These ribbons can be sent as eCards and/or pinned to Bowel Cancer Australia’s virtual apple tree.

Okay, so why the apples?

Firstly, apples are nutritious sources of dietary fibre, and eating the right amount of fibre has been shown to greatly reduce the risk of bowel cancer as well as keeping people generally healthy.

Secondly, Bowel Cancer Australia has chosen an apple as their logo as it looks a bit like the human bowel. Their version has a small hole in the apple which is caused by a worm. If detected early and removed, the worm is unable to continue affecting the apple and the health of the tree. The same concept applies to the disease in people – if bowel cancer is detected early, it can be successfully treated, which means the patient and their family can continue to enjoy a healthy life.