Bowel cancer symptoms, when should you act?

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second most common cause of cancer death. Yet when detected early, the majority of cases are treatable. Knowing the symptoms and acting on them promptly can make a profound difference to outcomes.

What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?

The main symptoms that should prompt you to seek medical advice are:

• A persistent change in bowel habit: particularly looser stools, increased frequency, or alternating constipation and diarrhoea, lasting more than three weeks.
• Rectal bleeding: blood in or on the stool, which may appear bright red or darker in colour.
• Abdominal pain or discomfort: particularly if persistent or associated with bloating.
• A feeling of incomplete emptying after opening the bowels.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Unexplained tiredness or anaemia: which may be caused by chronic blood loss from a tumour.

Should I be worried if I have these symptoms?

Most people with these symptoms will not have bowel cancer; they are far more commonly caused by benign conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, haemorrhoids, or inflammatory bowel disease. However, these symptoms should never be dismissed or assumed to be benign without proper investigation. The only way to know for certain is to have an examination and, where appropriate, a colonoscopy.

Who is at higher risk?

The risk of bowel cancer increases with age, the majority of cases occur in people over 50. Other risk factors include a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, a diet high in red and processed meat, obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. If you have a significant family history of bowel cancer, you may be eligible for earlier or more frequent surveillance colonoscopy.

What should you do?

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms described above for more than a few weeks, please seek medical advice. In the private setting, I can typically arrange an urgent consultation and colonoscopy within a very short timescale. Early diagnosis remains the single most important factor in bowel cancer outcomes.