How to Survive Bowel Cancer

According to the Mayo Clinic, bowel cancer can affect either the small or large intestine, resulting in symptoms such as localized pain, blood in the stool (either dried or visible), narrow stools, excessive gas or abdominal bloating and gas. Although nothing provides a 100 percent guarantee of surviving bowel cancer, you can increase your odds by making several lifestyle changes.

Instructions

Surviving Bowel Cancer

• 1

  Engage in regular preemptive screening or head to the doctor for a checkup if any signs or symptoms occur. According to medicalnewstoday.com, 9 out of 10 people with bowel cancer will survive if the disease is caught early. Therefore, if you have not been diagnosed but are worried you might have the disease, see your physician right away.

• 2

  Engage in regular moderate-intensity exercise to increase your body's ability to fight cancer and deal with the rigors of treatment. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), you should aim to perform at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise at least five days of the week. Moderate-intensity exercise is activity that results in elevated heart rate and increased breathing--anything from swimming to brisk walking to light resistance training. According to a 2006 study in "Journal of Clinical Oncology," individuals who exercised regularly after being diagnosed with colon cancer were 50 percent less likely to die than patients who did not.

• 3

  Follow a cancer-fighting diet to further increase your odds. According to the ACS, emedtv.com, and coloncancerresource.com, this means a plant-based diet filled with vegetables, fruits and grains (around 50 to 60 percent of total daily calories); moderate amounts of lean protein (around 30 to 40 percent); and limited amounts of dietary fat (20 to 30 percent). Stick to natural fresh foods and avoid frozen foods, processed items, pre-prepared dishes, sugars and alcohols. Consume multiple small meals throughout the day even if you are not hungry at the time.

• 4

  Take in enough calories to maintain your weight throughout treatment. According to emedtv.com, keeping your weight from dropping during treatment is one of the keys to a surviving bowel cancer. Weigh yourself regularly and keep track of how many calories you are consuming per day. Aim to consume a similar number of calories each day, increasing this number by 300 to 400 if you notice your weight starting to drop.

• 5

  Consider all treatment options available, no matter how radical. While some individuals wince at the thought of having a bowel resection or colectomy, understand that these procedures offer you some of the best odds for pushing bowel cancer into remission. Don't avoid them or refuse treatment out of hand to pursue alternative measures that could potentially prove less effective.