Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK – but if detected early, it can often be successfully treated.

Symptoms can be subtle and do not necessarily make you feel ill, according to NHS guidance.

But 90 percent of people with bowel cancer have at least one of the following combinations of symptoms:

  • A persistent change in bowel habit – pooing more often, with looser, runnier poos and sometimes stomach pain
  • Blood in the poo without other symptoms of piles
  • Abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always brought on by eating and sometimes resulting in a reduction of food eaten and weight loss

The Northern Echo: Beating Bowel Cancer

Most people with the symptoms do not have bowel cancer but the NHS advises contacting a GP if any symptoms persist for three weeks or more.

Read more: North East patients waiting too long for vital bowel cancer tests

In some cases, bowel cancer stops digestive waste passing through the bowel – this is known as a bowel obstruction and is considered a medical emergency.

Symptoms include:

  • Intermittent and occasionally severe abdominal pain, always brought on by eating
  • Unintentional weight loss with persistent abdominal pain
  • Constant swelling of the stomach with abdominal pain
  • Being sick with constant abdominal swelling

If you suspect your bowel is obstructed, the NHS recommends visiting the nearest A&E.

For more information on bowel cancer, visit bowelcanceruk.org.uk.

 

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