Bowel Cancer
Bowel cancer is cancer that starts in the large bowel (colon) or rectum.
It can affect anyone, although it’s more common as we get older. Finding bowel cancer early gives you the best chance of successful treatment. That’s why it’s important to know what’s normal for your body and speak to your doctor if you notice a change that doesn’t go away.
Symptoms of Bowel Cancer
It’s important to get any symptoms checked, even if they don’t seem serious. Most of the time they won’t be cancer, but it’s always best to find out.
Common symptoms include:
- Blood in your poo or bleeding from your bottom
- Changes in your bowel habits lasting three weeks or more, such as diarrhoea or constipation
- Needing to poo more or less often than usual
- A lump or ulcer at your bottom
- A lump in your tummy
- Ongoing tummy pain or bloating
- Unexplained weight loss
- Feeling unusually tired or short of breath
If you notice any of these symptoms, or something that isn’t normal for you, contact your doctor.
If you’re worried about any cancer symptoms, your doctor will want to see you. Book an appointment.
Are you at risk of Bowel Cancer?
Anyone can develop bowel cancer, but some things can increase your risk, including:
Being aged 50 or over
Having a close family history of bowel cancer
Living with certain bowel conditions
Smoking
Drinking alcohol or eating processed meat regularly
Being overweight or inactive
You can reduce your risk of cancer by making healthier lifestyle choices. Find out more about reducing your risk of cancer by clicking here.
Common myths around Bowel Cancer
- Myth“I feel healthy, so I don’t need to do the test.””
- Myth“The test is difficult or messy.”
- Myth“If blood is found, it means I have cancer.”
- Myth“If my screening result is normal, I can ignore any future symptoms.”
- The FactsBowel screening is for people who have no symptoms. It is designed to find signs of bowel cancer early, when treatment is often more successful.
- The FactsThe FIT kit is quick and simple to use at home. Only a very small sample of poo is needed.
- The FactsNot necessarily. Blood in the sample can have many causes, such as piles (haemorrhoids) or bowel polyps. Further tests are needed to find the cause.
- The FactsA normal screening result does not guarantee that bowel cancer will not develop later. Anyone with symptoms should still contact their GP.
Useful Resources
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