April is bowel cancer awareness month.
Knowing the symptoms is important to help spot bowel cancer early. The earlier that it’s found, the more treatable it’s likely to be.
Bowel cancer is cancer that begins in the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum. It’s sometimes called colorectal cancer.
Bowel cancer can affect anyone, whatever your age, gender, ethnicity or where you live.
Symptoms can include:
- bleeding from your bottom
- blood in your poo
- a change in your pooing habits. You might be going more or less often, or have diarrhoea or constipation that might come and go
- losing weight but you’re not sure why
- feeling very tired all the time but you’re not sure why
- a pain or lump in your tummy
Having these symptoms doesn’t always mean you have bowel cancer, but it’s still important to find out what’s causing them.
What should I do if I have symptoms of bowel cancer?
If you have any of these symptoms, or if you’re worried about any changes that you notice, visit your GP and ask about an at-home test. It’s important to know that not everyone will have all the symptoms of bowel cancer, or they may get different symptoms at different times. Even if you have just one symptom, your GP will want to see you.
What is the at-home test?
Your GP can give you a poo test kit, called a faecal immunochemical test (FIT), to do at home. You’ll collect a small amount of poo. This is sent to a lab where they will test for blood in your poo. The result of this test will tell your GP whether you need further tests.
More information is available at www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/symptoms/