Health experts are urging the public to stay vigilant for any changes in toilet habits that might indicate bowel cancer.
It comes as Bowel Cancer UK have highlighted that this disease is the fourth most common cancer in Britain, with nearly 43,000 people diagnosed annually.
Although potentially deadly, early detection of bowel cancer can lead to a complete recovery. Symptoms often mistaken for less serious conditions such as diarrhoea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) should not be ignored.
Cancer Research UK reveals that over 94% of new bowel cancer cases occur in individuals aged over 50, and astonishingly, 54 percent of these cases could be prevented.
Health experts shared insights on bowel cancer as reported by the Mirror, including symptoms that are difficult to detect.
Bowel cancer symptoms
The NHS lists the most prevalent warning signs of bowel cancer, which include:
- Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
- Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
- Blood in your poo, which may look red or black
- Bleeding from your bottom
- Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
- Tummy pain
- Bloating
- Losing weight without trying
- Feeling very tired for no reason
Dr Luke Pratsides, a leading GP at Numan, advised: “There are some important signs and symptoms to look out for with regards to bowel cancer which include: noticing blood in your stool, a change in your bowel habit with regard to diarrhoea or constipation that persists for more than four weeks, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain and the feeling that you need to pass stools, even though your bowels are already empty.”
He emphasised: “If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important you see your GP urgently for further investigation.”
Bowel cancer symptoms can be elusive and are often described as “generic,” making the disease challenging to diagnose, according to Hussain Abdeh, clinical director and superintendent pharmacist at Medicine Direct. He highlighted: “Bowel cancer can be difficult to diagnose outright as the symptoms are quite generic.”
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He explained the initial GP procedures, noting: “When you see your GP, they will normally perform a digital rectal examination, which may be uncomfortable but takes less than one minute to carry out. You will also be asked for a stool sample, which will be examined for traces of blood.”
Individuals concerned about potential signs of bowel cancer should consult their GP, advised Dr Pratsides, advocating that the difficulties in securing appointments shouldn’t deter them. “We hear a lot these days in the media about how hard it is to see your GP but don’t be put off by this. If you describe symptoms of bowel cancer you will get an appointment,” he urged.
Meanwhile, pharmacist Abbas Kanani of Chemist Click pointed out that bowel cancer treatment is continually advancing, stating: “The survival rate over 10 years is around 50 per cent for bowel cancer, and the bowel survival rate has more than doubled over the last 40 year in the UK.”
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