Recognizing the Signs of Bowel Cancer: A Guide to Early Detection

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK, yet many people are unaware of the early warning signs. Talking about bowel movements can be uncomfortable, but recognizing changes and seeking medical advice promptly is crucial for successful treatment. Ahead of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in April, we explore the key symptoms to watch for and the importance of early detection.

Five Key Warning Signs of Bowel Cancer

According to Mr. Jeremy Clark, a consultant general surgeon specializing in colorectal diseases at Nuffield Health in Brighton, these five signs should prompt a visit to your doctor:

1. Blood in the Stool

“Passing blood when you go to the toilet is a worrying feature that you should flag to your GP,” says Mr. Clark. The color of the blood can vary. Blood from the beginning of the colon tends to be dark black, as it travels a longer distance through the digestive system. Bleeding closer to the rectum typically results in bright red blood.

“If you see blood in the stools, particularly darker-colored blood or blood that’s actually mixed in with the stools, just once and it’s significant, that should be reported to your doctor straight away. Don’t wait for that to keep on happening.” Persistent bright red blood also warrants medical attention. However, a small amount of bright red blood on toilet paper, if you know you have hemorrhoids, may be less concerning, but should be reported to a doctor if it continues for longer than a week and has never been investigated before.

2. Changes in Bowel Habits

“If your bowels go from working once a day like clockwork, and then suddenly you’re going two or three times a day and the bowels are a bit looser, that’s something that needs to be looked into,” explains Mr. Clark. Conversely, a sudden onset of constipation that doesn’t resolve should also be investigated.

“If your bowels play up for just for a day or two and then settle, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. But if you have a persistent change that goes on for a couple of weeks, then that should be reported.”

3. Abdominal Pain

Bowel cancers can cause abdominal pain, although this often appears as a later symptom. However, it can occur early in the disease’s progression.

4. Bloating

“People often feel quite bloated if there’s something wrong going on in the bowel,” adds Mr. Clark.

5. Unexplained Weight Loss

“Bowel cancers can cause you to lose weight by having an impact on how your digestion is working,” notes Mr. Clark.

Why Symptoms Are Often Ignored

Mr. Clark recognizes that many of these symptoms can overlap with less serious conditions like hemorrhoids or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), leading people to dismiss them. This delay in seeking medical attention can be detrimental.

The Importance of Early Detection

Reporting any unusual changes as early as possible is critical for improving treatment outcomes. “We don’t want people to be sitting on symptoms for a couple of months, wondering if something is going to change back to normal, because although bowel cancers usually do progress slowly, occasionally they can be more aggressive,” says Mr. Clark. “We like people to report these things early, as we would rather investigate something and figure out that it’s nothing rather than be looking at things later on and not being able to do so much.”

What to Do If You’re Concerned

If you experience any of these symptoms, or are worried about changes in your bowel habits, consult your GP. Your doctor may provide a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) kit, an at-home test to check for blood in your stool.

Individuals aged 50 to 74 in England are offered FIT kits every two years as part of the national bowel cancer screening program. A positive FIT test result indicates the presence of blood in the stool and necessitates further investigation, such as a colonoscopy or CT scan, to rule out polyps or bowel cancer. Early detection significantly increases the chances of successful treatment and cure.