Symptoms of Bowel Cancer

The 3 main symptoms of bowel cancer are:

• persistent blood in your poo – that happens for no obvious reason or is associated with a change in bowel habit
• a persistent change in your bowel habit – which is usually having to poo more and your poo may also become more runny
• persistent lower abdominal (tummy) pain, bloating or discomfort – that's always caused by eating and may be associated with loss of appetite or significant unintentional weight loss

Most people with these symptoms do not have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms. For example:

• blood in the poo when associated with pain or soreness is more often caused by piles (haemorrhoids)
• a change in bowel habit or abdominal pain is usually caused by something you've eaten
• a change in bowel habit to going less often, with harder poo, is not usually caused by any serious condition – it may be worth trying laxatives before seeing a GP.

These symptoms should be taken more seriously as you get older and when they persist despite simple treatments.

When to get medical advice?

See a GP If you have any of the symptoms of bowel cancer for 3 weeks or more.

The GP may decide to:



• examine your tummy and bottom to make sure you have no lumps
• arrange for a simple blood test to check for iron deficiency anaemia – this can show whether there's any bleeding from your bowel that you have not been aware of
• arrange for you to have a simple test in hospital to make sure there's no serious cause of your symptoms

Make sure you see a GP if your symptoms persist or keep coming back after stopping treatment, regardless of their severity or your age. You'll probably be referred to hospital.

Causes of Bowel Cancer

The exact cause of bowel cancer is not known, but there are a number of things that can increase your risk, including:

• age – almost 9 in 10 people with bowel cancer are aged 60 or over
• diet – a diet high in red or processed meats and low in fibre can increase your risk
• weight – bowel cancer is more common in overweight or obese people
• exercise – being inactive increases your risk of getting bowel cancer
• alcohol – drinking alcohol might increase your risk of getting bowel cancer
• smoking – smoking may increase your chances of getting bowel cancer
• family history – having a close relative (mother or father, brother or sister) who developed bowel cancer under the age of 50 puts you at a greater lifetime risk of developing the condition; screening is offered to people in this situation, and you should discuss this with a GP

Some people also have an increased risk of bowel cancer because they've had another condition, such as extensive ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease in the colon for more than 10 years.

Although there are some risks you cannot change, such as your age or family history, there are several ways you can lower your chances of developing the condition