During December, Bowel Cancer Australia is running its Decembeard and Decembhair campaigns for bowel cancer awareness.

It’s your chance to join in by growing a beard or dyeing your hair a crazy colour — there are lots more ways too, which we’ll explore in this article.

You’ll also learn about bowel cancer symptoms and what you should do if you spot them.

About bowel cancer awareness campaigns

The campaigns complement Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, which takes place in June every year.

They’re a reminder, halfway to the next awareness month, that bowel cancer is an important issue for Australians.

Every week, nearly 300 Australians learn the news that they have bowel cancer. And 5,350 Australians die from the disease each year; in fact, it’s the second deadliest cancer after lung cancer. (Statistics provided by Bowel Cancer Australia.)

The campaigns are designed to raise awareness of bowel cancer in a fun way, as well as raise funds for research into the disease.

As part of Decembeard and Decembhair, people are encouraged to make a statement with their beard or hair to start a conversation about bowel cancer.

How can I join in?

There are lots of ways to join in with the awareness campaigns.

You can:

  • Grow a moustache or beard
  • Dye your hair a vibrant colour
  • Try a radical new hairstyle
  • Let your hair grow
  • Run a craziest hairstyle or best beard competition
  • Wear a striking wig
  • Raise funds for bowel cancer research through a sponsored event (could be a sporting event, cake sale or head shave)
  • Share your bowel cancer story with Bowel Cancer Australia
  • Raise awareness of the disease on social media, using the #DecembeardAU #Decembhair #BeBold4BowelCancer hashtags and tagging @BowelCancerAustralia

What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?

Now is a good time to learn more about the symptoms of bowel cancer. Typical symptoms include:

  • Bleeding from the rectum (back passage)
  • Blood in your poo
  • A recent change in your bowel habits that persists — for example, diarrhoea, constipation, a feeling of incomplete emptying or going to the loo more frequently
  • A change in the appearance of your poo — for example, mucus in the poo or narrower poos
  • A lump or pain in the anus or rectum
  • Abdominal swelling, pain or bloating
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Unexplained fatigue

If you have any of the symptoms or are worried about bowel cancer, go and see your GP.

It’s important to understand that people with early bowel cancer may have no symptoms. That’s why screening is important to detect the signs.

Guidelines recommend that people aged 50 to 74 should be offered a bowel screening kit every two years. The test can be carried out at home and is safe and easy to do — speak to your GP to know more.

How can I reduce my risk of bowel cancer?

There are actions you can take to help reduce your risk of bowel cancer. These include:

  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Staying active — aim for 30 minutes or more of physical activity every day
  • Limiting your alcohol intake
  • Limiting the amount of red and processed meat you eat
  • Eating plenty of fibre
  • Quitting or avoiding smoking
  • Including dairy products in your diet
  • Discussing taking aspirin to reduce your risk with your GP
  • Getting screening if you are aged 50 or over

How can I support someone with bowel cancer?

This month is also an opportunity to support someone you know with bowel cancer.

You could do this by taking them to their medical appointments so they don’t have to worry about getting there.

Or you could help them organise their medication and any other aspects of caring for themselves at home, whether that’s self-care or helping prepare nutritious meals.

Emotional support is valuable too. Be guided by them and let them steer the conversation. Remember, you don’t have to talk about cancer. Chatting about friends, family or what’s in the news can give them a boost and take their mind off their treatment.

Why not gift them a medical wristband for bowel cancer? Medical ID bracelets can be customised with any information you like and are invaluable in an emergency, letting caregivers know about a patient’s health status when they may not be able to communicate themselves.

You can choose a medical alert in the colours associated with bowel cancer, which are blue or red and green.

Check out our silicone wristbands, the perfect choice for gifting, or take a look at options for necklaces, which offer a stylish alternative.

We’ve got you covered!

Raise awareness of bowel cancer through Decembeard and Decembhair this month. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about symptoms and spread the word to friends and family.

And if you’re looking for a fun and affordable gift for someone with bowel cancer, take a look at our online collection of med alerts. A medic alert will not only raise awareness of this condition but could also help someone in an emergency if they can’t speak for themselves.

We’ve got you covered for a range of health conditions, so be sure to browse all the products in the Mediband online shop.