Bowel cancer symptoms: What are the first signs and when should I get a screening?
BOWEL cancer causes tens of thousands of deaths every year, making it one of the UK's biggest cancer killers.
Here, we tell you what symptoms you should look out for and how you can get tested.
What is bowel cancer?
Bowel cancer is where the disease starts in the large intestines.
It can also be called colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where it starts.
Read more on bowel cancer
In most cases, bowel cancer develops from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps.
Not all polyps will become cancerous, but if you are found to have them your doctor will often remove them to prevent the risk.
Bowel cancer is the second deadliest form of the disease in the UK - after lung cancer.
Nearly 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK each year, while 16,500 people die of the disease.
It is one of the most common cancers in England, but only one in 20 Brits would go to the doctor if they had symptoms of bowel cancer.
Like most cancers, early diagnosis can save lives.
Fewer than one in ten people survive bowel cancer if it's picked up at stage 4, but detected quickly - at stage 1 before it's spread - more than nine in ten patients will live five years or longer.
There are two ways to give yourself the best chance at early diagnosis -knowing the signs and symptoms, and taking up the invite for NHS screening when you are eligible.
What are the first symptoms of bowel cancer?
Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes to your normal and going to your doctor is vital.
If you notice any of the signs, don't be embarrassed - chances are your GP has heard it all before.
The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo
- A change in your normal toilet habits - going more frequently for example
- Pain or a lump in your tummy
- Extreme tiredness
- Losing weight
Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.
In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction.
Other signs of bowel cancer include:
- Gripping pains in the abdomen
- Feeling bloated
- Constipation and being unable to pass wind
- Being sick
- Feeling like you need to strain - like doing a number two - but after you've been to the loo
- you're aged over 50
- you have a strong family history of the disease
- a history of non-cancerous growths, known as polyps, in your bowel
- long-term inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
- type 2 diabetes
- an unhealthy lifestyle - you smoke, are overweight or obese and do not get enough exercise
What are the risk factors of bowel cancer?
You're at greater risk of bowel cancer if you have one or more of the following risk factors:
- you're aged over 50
- you have a strong family history of the disease
- a history of non-cancerous growths, known as polyps, in your bowel
- long-term inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
- type 2 diabetes
- an unhealthy lifestyle - you smoke, are overweight or obese and do not get enough exercise
When should I get a bowel cancer screening?
The UK currently has three cancer screening programmes on the NHS, to detect bowel, cervical and breast cancers.
But, for years, Brits have been subjected to a postcode lottery when it comes to bowel cancer screening.
In Scotland, screening starts at the age of 50. Yet, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland people had to wait until their 60th birthdays to be invited to take the life-saving tests.
That's why, in April 2018, The Sun launched the No Time 2 Lose campaign - calling on the Government to lower the screening age to 50, a move which could save an estimated 4,500 lives annually.
In the summer of 2018, health secretary Matt Hancock announced screening in England would be lowered to 50 - marking a victory for The Sun and campaigners.
In April 2021, NHS England began to gradually reduce the age range starting with those aged 56. The rollout will be phased over four years to include people aged 50-59.
In Wales you are invited if you're aged between 55 and 74, and in Northern Ireland people still have to wait until 60 to receive an invite.
Each of the bowel cancer screening programmes in the UK use home tests called faecal immunochemical test (FIT).
If you are eligible the test will be sent to you automatically, every two years.
The FIT tests involves collecting a small sample of poo on a plastic stick and putting it in a sample bottle. You then post the sample to a lab for testing.
Results typically take around two weeks, according to .
In most cases you will be told no further action is needed at that time.
If however you then notice symptoms of bowel cancer, you must still see your GP.
Some people will be told that they require further tests, such as colonoscopy, if anything unusual was found.
The NHS says: "See a GP if you have any of the symptoms of bowel cancer for three weeks or more."
Health and social care secretary Steven Barclay encouraged the use of these testing kits to catch it early, in February 2023.
He said: “With the launch of the NHS’ first national campaign on bowel cancer screening, more people will be encouraged to use the home testing kit when they receive it.
"Screening makes it more likely that bowel cancer will be successfully detected and treated.
‘’Together with the NHS we are continuing to extend the screening offer to those aged 50-74. I urge everyone who receives a kit to use it.’’
Can bowel cancer be treated?
Bowel cancer is treatable and can be cured, if it is diagnosed early enough.
More than nine out of 10 people with stage 1 bowel cancer - the least serious form - survive five years or longer after they are diagnosed.
However, this survival rate does drop significantly the longer a person has the disease before diagnosis.
The number of people dying from bowel cancer each year has been falling since the 1970s.
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