Bowel cancer symptoms
The first step you can take to protect against bowel cancer is to make sure you are aware of the symptoms. And most importantly, see your GP if you are at all concerned.
If you have any of the higher risk bowel cancer symptoms listed below for more than six weeks you should visit your GP:
- Bleeding from the bottom (rectal bleeding) without any obvious reason. If you have other symptoms such as straining, soreness, lumps and itchiness the problem is likely to be piles but it’s still important to get this confirmed by your GP
- A persistent change in bowel habit especially going to the toilet more often or experiencing looser stools for several weeks
- Abdominal pain especially if severe
- Weight loss and tiredness (signs of anaemia)
Please remember that most of these symptoms will not be bowel cancer, but to rule it out you must first visit your GP.
If bowel cancer is diagnosed early it can be successfully treated in over 90% of cases. So early intervention is important. If you are worried about having bowel cancer symptoms, download our symptoms leaflet and make an appointment with your GP. It might be helpful to take the leaflet to your appointment with you.
Still worried?
Contact our nurses on 08450 719 301 (Monday – Thursday 9:00 – 17:30, Friday 9:00 – 16:00)