Things to look out for…

Early bowel cancer may have no symptoms. Signs of bowel cancer that appear later can also occur in people with less serious medical problems such as haemorrhoids (piles).

See your doctor if you notice any of the symptoms described below.

Blood in your stools
Blood in your stools may be a sign of cancer, but it can also occur with other less serious conditions. If you have bright red blood that you notice on the tissue after going to the toilet, this is more likely to come from haemorrhoids or tiny tears of your anus. Some foods, such as beetroot, can make your stools look red or black. If you notice blood, either bright red or dark red/brown, in or on your stools that you can’t explain, see your doctor.

Persistent change in your bowel movements
A change in normal bowel habits such as looser stools, diarrhoea or constipation that lasts longer than a few weeks. You may also feel that you haven’t emptied your bowels properly after a bowel motion.

Abdominal pain or discomfort
Your abdomen may feel swollen and sore, especially on the right side. If you find a lump on this side, medical attention should be sought quickly.

Losing weight and/or extreme tiredness
Because bowel cancers bleed, you may have a shortage of red blood cells in your blood (anaemia), which can lead to tiredness (fatigue) and sometimes breathlessness. You may also lose your appetite. But fatigue, weight loss and anaemia are also symptoms of many other common illnesses and conditions.

Bowel blockage
Bowel cancer sometimes causes a blockage that may result in pain in the abdomen, a bloated feeling, constipation and being sick (vomiting).

Your GP will ask you questions about your general health and more specific questions to help with the diagnosis of bowel cancer. Questions may include:

• Have you noticed any blood in your stools?
• Have you noticed a change in your bowel habits?
• How long has any change been going on for?
• Does it hurt when you go to the toilet?
• Do you ever feel sick or get indigestion?
• How’s your appetite?
• Have you lost any weight lately?
• What’s your diet like?
• Do you get more tired than you used to?

Bowel cancer can be treated if detected early enough. The NHS has introduced a screening programme for bowel cancer to look for early signs of the disease so that treatment can be given when it is most likely to be effective.

By the end of 2009, all men and women aged between 60 and 69 in England, will be sent a stool testing kit every two years. People over 70 years can request a kit when it becomes available in their area. The ages when screening takes place in other parts of the UK may be different. The test looks for blood in your stools. If you have an abnormal result, you’ll be referred for further tests such as colonoscopy (a bowel scope) to examine your bowel for polyps or cancer. The screening programme will be extended in England to those aged 70 to 75 from 2010.