Bowel Cancer

Bowel cancer is a common type of cancer that affects the large bowel, including the colon and rectum. It usually develops from small growths called polyps, which can sometimes turn into cancer over time.

• Changes in your poo, such as diarrhea or constipation that lasts for weeks.

• Blood in your poo or bleeding from your bottom.

• Ongoing tummy pain, bloating, or discomfort.

• Unexplained weight loss or feeling very tired all the time

If you have any of these symptoms that last over 3 weeks, book in to see a GP.

• Eating a healthy diet, staying active, and not smoking can reduce your risk.

• If you're over 50, you may be invited to take part in bowel cancer screening. This simple test checks for signs of cancer early, even if you have no symptoms.

Each month, the NHS posts out more than half a million free Faecal Immunochemical Test kits (FIT) to people to use in the privacy of their homes.

The FIT kit detects small amounts of blood in poo- that would not be visible to people – before someone may notice anything is wrong.

The bowel screening age now includes individuals aged 54 and will expand to include everyone over 50 within the next year. However, it’s important to note that the bowel screening program is less sensitive than tests conducted by GPs for symptomatic patients. If you experience any concerning symptoms, please see your GP, even if you’ve recently completed a bowel screening test.