{"id":524127,"date":"2026-04-10T22:39:35","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T22:39:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/524127\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T22:39:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T22:39:35","slug":"five-early-signs-of-bowel-cancer-everyone-should-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/524127\/","title":{"rendered":"Five early signs of bowel cancer everyone should know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. It is more common in the over-50s but it can affect people of all ages. More than 2,700 people under 50 are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK every year, according to Bowel Cancer UK. And research<\/a> suggests rates are rising in younger adults (aged 25 to 49) globally.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is the UK\u2019s second biggest cancer killer \u2013 around 17,700 people die from bowel cancer in the UK every year,\u201d says Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK. \u201cHowever, it shouldn\u2019t be because it is treatable and curable<\/a>, especially if diagnosed early. <\/p>\n

Nearly everyone survives bowel cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage \u2014 more than nine in 10 people will survive their disease for five years or more. However this drops significantly to one in 10 people when the disease is diagnosed at the latest stage.\u201d <\/p>\n

New FeatureIn ShortQuick Stories. Same trusted journalism.<\/p>\n

The earlier bowel cancer is detected<\/a>, the greater the chance of surviving. But sadly, fewer than four in 10 people are diagnosed at the early stages (stage one and two). Almost half of people are diagnosed at the later stages (stage three and four). <\/p>\n

It\u2019s vital, then, that people are aware of the early signs of bowel cancer, as some symptoms may come and go, or are easily confused with other conditions. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen diagnosed at an early stage, treatment is more likely to be less invasive, too,\u201d explains consultant colorectal surgeon Dr Rajnish Mankotia. \u201cLate-stage cancers have spread and require more extensive treatment with lower survival rates. Regular screening detects precancerous polyps before cancer even develops.\u201d <\/p>\n

The NHS runs a national bowel cancer screening programme to find bowel cancer early, before symptoms develop, when treatment is most effective. In England, people aged 50 to 74 who are registered with a GP are automatically sent a home stool test (FIT kit) every two years and those aged 75 and over can request a kit. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe FIT kit checks for tiny traces of blood in the stool. If the level is above a set threshold, the person is invited for further tests, usually a colonoscopy, where any polyps can be removed and early cancers detected,\u201d Mankotia explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cBowel cancer can affect anyone, whatever your age,\u201d Edwards says. \u201cTaking part in the screening is one of the best ways to spot the disease early or remove polyps that might develop into cancer, even before symptoms appear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Symptoms of bowel cancer<\/p>\n

Blood in the stool <\/p>\n

Blood in the stool is one of the most widely recognised symptoms of bowel cancer. This can include bleeding from the back passage or seeing blood mixed with or on the surface of the stool, notes Mankotia. <\/p>\n

\u201cBlood in the stool does not always look the same, and is not always obvious,\u201d adds Dr Marie Edison, head of medical policy at Vitality Health. \u201cBright red blood, which may be seen on the stool itself, on toilet paper or in the toilet bowl, can suggest bleeding from the lower bowel or rectum. Dark red or black, tarry stools, may indicate bleeding higher up the bowel. Black stools can also have a strong, unpleasant smell. In some cases, blood may be present but not visible to the eye (known as occult blood) and only detected through testing.\u201d <\/p>\n

Change in bowel habits <\/p>\n

A change in usual bowel habits is another key symptom. This can include looser stools, going more often, or new\u2011onset constipation, Mankotia says. \u201cAnother is a persistent feeling of needing to strain to open the bowels, even after having a poo; or a lump that a doctor can feel in the back passage or in the abdomen; or pain or discomfort in the abdomen or back passage lasting for four to six weeks, with weight loss.\u201d <\/p>\n

Unexplained weight loss<\/p>\n

Unintentional or unexplained weight loss is another red flag. When should you be concerned? \u201cIn the context of bowel cancer, this often involves losing weight unintentionally, without changes to diet or activity, over a relatively short period, typically weeks to a few months,\u201d Edison says. \u201cAlso weight loss that is noticeable or ongoing, rather than just a few pounds that fluctuate naturally; or weight loss that occurs alongside other symptoms, such as loss of appetite, tiredness or changes in bowel habit.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is no single amount of weight loss that defines a problem, he says, but losing several kilograms, or clothing becoming looser without explanation, should be taken seriously.<\/p>\n

Tiredness<\/p>\n

Feeling very tired all the time, but you\u2019re not sure why, or feeling breathless, are other potential symptoms to be aware of. \u201cThis can be a sign of anaemia, which can be caused by bowel cancer (due to blood loss),\u201d explains Edwards. \u201cAnaemia (iron deficiency) is when the number of healthy red blood cells in the body is lower than normal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pain or lump in your stomach <\/p>\n

Signs of bowel obstruction include nausea, vomiting, and a swollen abdomen from a partial or complete blockage. \u201cThese can occur particularly with larger colon tumours. In some cases, a palpable mass may be felt by a clinician,\u201d Mankotia says. <\/p>\n

If you have one or more of the above symptoms for three or more weeks, it\u2019s important to visit your GP and find out what\u2019s causing them, Edison stresses. \u201cBowel cancer symptoms can sometimes be confused with other conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn\u2019s disease, or ulcerative colitis.\u201d <\/p>\n

The most important thing is to be aware of what\u2019s \u201cnormal\u201d for you, she adds. \u201cKeeping a symptom diary of when they started and how long they last will give your GP a really good idea of the extent of your issues.\u201d <\/p>\n

How is bowel cancer usually diagnosed?<\/p>\n

Your GP will typically make some initial assessments, go through your medical history, perform a physical examination and run some blood tests (including a full blood count and to check for anaemia), Mankotia explains. \u201cStool-based tests, which can be done from home, can detect hidden blood and prompt further investigation. A colonoscopy is the gold standard diagnostic test<\/a>, which uses a camera to examine the inside of your bowel and take biopsies of polyps or tumours. If a colonoscopy is not possible, a CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) or CT scan can help.\u201d<\/p>\n

What is the treatment for bowel cancer?<\/p>\n

Treatment depends on a number of factors, including the stage of cancer<\/a>, location (colon vs rectum) and patient health, Mankotia notes. Surgery is the most common treatment for bowel cancer, including a polypectomy to remove polyps; or colectomy to remove part of the involved colon and rejoin the bowel.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor higher-risk stage two\/three, chemotherapy is incorporated after surgery to shrink tumours or prolong survival,\u201d she says. \u201cRadiotherapy is the standard for rectal cancer to shrink tumours and improve resectability, less commonly used for colon cancer. For advanced cancer, the focus is on palliative care, such as symptom control and quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reducing your risk of bowel cancer<\/p>\n

It\u2019s estimated that around half of all bowel cancers could be prevented by having a healthier lifestyle.<\/p>\n

Certain lifestyle factors can reduce your risk<\/a> of developing bowel cancer, Edison points out. \u201cStop smoking \u2013 around seven per cent of bowel cancer cases in the UK are linked to smoking. Cut back on alcohol; alcohol consumption increases\u202fyour\u202frisk of certain cancers, including colorectal. Aim for 30g of fibre each day, as well as helping your bowels to stay healthy,\u201d she says, noting that studies suggest fibre-rich diets significantly reduce your risk <\/a>of developing bowel cancer. <\/p>\n

Avoid processed meats, too, which are classified as\u202fa carcinogen\u202f1 \u2013 high consumption is\u202fclosely associated\u202fwith an increased risk of cancer, particularly colon cancer. She advises to aim for less than\u202f500g\u202fof cooked red meat a week.\u202f<\/p>\n

\u201dAlso keep\u202factive and maintain a healthy\u202fweight,\u201d Edison says. \u201cRoughly 11 per cent of bowel cancers in the UK are linked to\u202fbeing overweight, as excess\u202fbody fat can release extra growth hormones and cause inflammation in your cells. Finally, attend screenings.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. It is more common in the over-50s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":524128,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[16011,847,242,59,102,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-524127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-bowel-cancer","tag-cancer","tag-features","tag-gb","tag-health","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/524127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=524127"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/524127\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/524128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=524127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=524127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=524127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}