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 symptoms listed below, it is safe to ‘watch and wait’ for up to six weeks. But, if they persist you should get advice from 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.

• A lump in your tummy.

• Weight loss and tiredness (a symptom of anaemia).
  

Please remember that most of these symptoms will not be bowel cancer. If you have one or more of these symptoms for more than four to six weeks you should go and see your GP to have further tests to rule it out.

Bowel cancer affects 35,600 people every year – men and women of all ages – and claims almost 50 lives every day. BUT if bowel cancer is caught early and treated successfully, it is completely curable. Don’t delay! If you have symptoms, make an appointment and talk to your GP.