June in New Zealand marks Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and Waitematā Endoscopy is right behind supporting Bowel Cancer NZ’s campaign and supporting you with practical yet powerful everyday tips that you can do to improve your gut health.

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of colon or bowel cancer in the world.  This equates to the same number of Kiwis dying of breast and prostate cancer combined. But it shouldn’t be, as bowel cancer is beatable and treatable if diagnosed early enough.  
At Waitematā Endoscopy, providing exceptional endoscopy care is our purpose and what motivates our team.  In this issue, Dr Cameron Schauer, Gastroenterologist and Interventional Endoscopist, (a fancy way of saying he’s a top-notch doctor), provides a positive focus on harnessing the power of a healthy gut.  
Even with such startling statistics, more than 50% of bowel cancers are due to modifiable risk factors – things that are within your control that you can change to improve your gut health and overall health.  In fact, in studies of immigrants that move from a country which has a low rate of bowel cancer to a country which has a high rate of bowel cancer, after just one generation, they are at the same risk of developing this cancer as their adopted country.
Other factors, (age, male gender, family history, inflammatory bowel conditions) are out of your control.
So here are some things that you can do, right here, starting from today, to make sure you and your family can stay safe and healthy.

1. Diet
It is hard to lose weight. But this is the number one modifiable cause in New Zealand of excess colon cancer.

A way to start:

• Write down what you are currently eating (food diary)
• Reduce processed foods and focus on whole foods – food that has not been modified as much. This includes vegetables, meats and grains.
• Eat a hearty breakfast with protein – which will give you a full tank of petrol for the day. This means something like an egg with cheese or veggies that will keep you full and prevent snacking at morning tea.
• Completely remove liquid calories – this means all soft drinks, coffees in cans etc. Even ‘healthy’ purchased smoothies have a lot of processed components and sugars. Drink water instead where possible.
• Manage your portion – eat off a smaller plate, stop eating when you are satisfied, not when you are full.
• Don’t aim for perfection straight away – choose realistic goals, eg. ten minutes of walking after dinner, no fizzy drinks, cooking four nights this week.

2. Reduce alcohol
In New Zealand, this is the second largest factor contributing to our high rates of colon cancer. Your risk increases by more than 44% if you are a heavy drinker.

3. Reduce red and processed meat
I love my BBQ, even in winter. I have to consciously cut down my consumption, and do my best by swapping this out three to four nights per week for beans, pasta, stir fries (and chicken!)

4. Move your body
Start by walking after a meal. Write down how much you did. Aim to increase this to 20-30 minutes every second day. Build this as a habit – it will take time, but it can change your life. People who exercise (regardless of what they eat) have a healthier, more diversified microbiome and healthier gut, and decreased risk of colon cancer. You will likely also notice an improvement in bloating and regularity of stool, particularly if you were tending to pass firmer motions.

5. Be aware of your ‘normal’
If your bowel habit changes (stool frequency or consistency), if you are developing abdominal symptoms such as bloating or pain, if there is blood or mucus when passing stool – get this checked out. Many cases in New Zealand are diagnosed when it is too late, and patients wished they had sought assistance earlier. It’s something I talk about and deal with every day – so be proactive – it may well save your life.

Know the symptoms, check out the resources available at bowelcancernz.org.nz/awareness-month
At a time of increased awareness of the benefits of earlier screening and detection, having a colonoscopy shouldn’t be something to fear anymore, but rather an empowering step towards better health, and you and your family’s peace of mind.  
At Waitematā Endoscopy, we’ve also solved the problem of long wait times, and can offer a colonoscopy within seven working days of a GP or self-referral if you let us match you with the earliest availability of our specialists across our two clinics.
So, take action this June, as while you might hesitate to talk about your bowel health, bowel cancer doesn’t wait.  

To view Dr Schauer’s talk about gut health, scan the QR code below or visit Waitematāendoscopy.co.nz/medical-conditions