Bowel Cancer Awareness Month: 5 ‘red flag’ symptoms to look out for

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is held in the UK throughout April, and health experts have issued a warning to help people recognise symptoms of this debilitating disease.

Bowel cancer ranks as the fourth most common cancer in the UK, as data from Cancer Research UK shows that around 43,000 each year receive a diagnosis.

Typically, bowel cancer affects those over 50, but it can affect people of any age. Being aware of the symptoms, taking action and attending screenings if you are eligible are crucial to combat this disease.

Dr Christine McKee, a Public Health Consultant at the Public Health Agency (PHA), emphasised the importance of awareness and screening, saying:

“Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers for both men and women. Being alert to the symptoms of bowel cancer and attending for screening when invited could save your life. The earlier cancer is detected, the better the chances of treatment being successful.

“Bowel cancer is more common in older people, so screening in this age group can save lives by picking up if a person may have bowel cancer early, even when there aren’t any symptoms.

“We would urge all those who receive a screening test kit to read the information that comes with it, and consider completing and returning the kit.”

In England, people between 60-74 years old will be invited for a screening test. In Scotland, that age is 50 to 74 and in Wales 51 to 74.

Early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes as can identify polyps, which are unusual growths in the bowel that could potentially turn cancerous.

What are early signs of bowel cancer?

Possible symptoms of bowel cancer can include:

• Blood in your poo
• Looser poo, pooing more often and/or constipation
• A pain or lump in your tummy
• Feeling more tired than usual for some time
• Losing weight for no obvious reason

What causes bowel cancer?

Health experts say it’s usually difficult to identify a single cause of bowel cancer in most people who have it. Instead, it’s likely to be a combination of things, which differ from person to person.

However, figures show that more than half (54%) of cases, are preventable, so recognising the signs and ways to minimise risk are crucial. Things that cause bowel cancer include:

• Genetics. For some people, bowel cancer runs in their family. Less commonly, there are also specific genetic syndromes that cause people to develop bowel cancer at a young age.
• Having bowel polyps.
• Inflammatory bowel diseases – for example, ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
• Obesity and overweight.
• Eating a diet high in red and processed meat.
• Smoking.
• Drinking alcohol

Preventable causes of bowel cancer

• 13% of bowel cancer cases in the UK are caused by eating processed meat.
• 11% of bowel cancer cases in the UK are caused by overweight and obesity.
• 6% of bowel cancer cases in the UK are caused by alcohol drinking.
• 7% of bowel cancer cases in the UK are caused by smoking.
• 2% of bowel cancer cases in the UK are caused by ionising radiation.
• 5% of bowel cancer cases in the UK are caused by too little physical activity.
• 28% of bowel cancer cases in the UK are caused by eating too little fibre.

Further reading

Medical Misdiagnosis or delay – Oakwood Solicitors

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