Bowel Cancer

Symptoms

Bowel cancer frequently develops without early symptoms. Symptoms that can occur include:

• Diarrhoea, constipation, or other changes in bowel habit lasting 10 days or more
• Bright red blood or mucus in the stool
• Very dark flecks in the stool (which can also be due to blood)
• Unexplained anaemia
• Abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen
• Abdominal discomfort (frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, and cramps)
• A feeling of still wanting to go to the toilet even after having emptied the bowels
• Complete blockage of the intestine
• Weight loss for no known reason
• Constant tiredness

These symptoms can be caused by cancer or by a number of other conditions. It is important to talk to your doctor and to potentially be screened for the presence of bowel cancer. If the polyps that may develop into a cancer are detected and removed, bowel cancer can often be prevented. If bowel cancer is detected early, it is up to 90% curable.