Deborah James discusses 'scary' bowel cancer symptoms
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A person’s risk of developing cancer depends on many factors, including age and genetics. Nonetheless, some risk factors can be modified meaning that you may be able to reduce your risk of developing the cancer. For example, Cancer Research says that 28 percent of bowel cancer cases in the UK are caused by eating too little fibre. If you do notice changes in your bowel habits, you should consult your doctor.
Bowel Cancer UK says you should “tell your GP if you have noticed any persistent and unexplained changes in your bowel habit”.
This advice holds especially if you also have bleeding from your back passage.
The charity says: “You may have looser poo and you may need to poo more often than normal.
“Or you may feel as though you’re not going to the toilet often enough or you might not feel as though you’re not fully emptying your bowels.”
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The charity says: “If you have any symptoms, don’t be embarrassed and don’t ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of people with bowel problems.”
There are a number of other signs to look out for. These include bleeding from your bottom or blood in your bowel movements.
Weight loss is also a sign, though the charity says this is less common than some of the other symptoms.
It suggests: “Speak to your GP if you have lost weight and you don’t know why. You may not feel like eating if you feel sick, bloated or if you just don’t feel hungry.”
There are also several other signs, according to the organisation. It can lead to a lack of iron in the body, which can cause anaemia , so you may feel very tired and your skin may look pale.
The charity adds: “You may have pain or a lump in your stomach area (abdomen) or back passage. See your GP if these symptoms don’t go away or if they’re affecting how you sleep or eat.”
Bowel Cancer UK says that fortunately bowel cancer “is very treatable” but the earlier it’s diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.
It notes: “People whose cancer is diagnosed at an early stage have a much higher chance of successful treatment than those whose cancer has become more widespread.”
Cancer Research says: “See your GP if you are worried about any symptoms that you think could be caused by cancer in the bowel.”
Indeed, many of these symptoms can be caused by other conditions, such as piles or inflammatory bowel disease.
Cancer Research says “your doctor won’t think you are wasting their time” and you should always tell your doctor about symptoms.
The number of people dying of bowel cancer has been falling since the 1970s, so early diagnosis and getting treatment is key.
Bowel Cancer UK notes that over 42,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK.
The organisation says that one in 15 men and one in 18 women will be diagnosed with bowel cancer during their lifetime.
The exact cause of bowel cancer is not known, but there are a number of things that can increase your risk.
The NHS says that smoking may increase your chances of getting bowel cancer, an
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