Bowel cancer symptoms

Receive our quarterly lifestyle research updates Email:

• bleeding from the back passage (rectum), or blood in/on your stools
• a change in your normal bowel habits; including diarrhoea or constipation for no apparent reason
• pain in the abdominal area and/or back passage
• constant need for bowel motion, even after having emptied the bowel
• a lump that can be felt in the right side of the abdomen or in the back passage
• loss of appetite resulting in weight loss
• anaemia (low red blood cells) that results in general tiredness

Apart from colorectal cancer, these symptoms can be a sign of other conditions as well. Bowel cancer usually develops in people over the age of 50. However, if you have these symptoms, it is important that you have them checked by your doctor regardless your age. Your symptoms may be a result of irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, haemorrhoids or other bowel conditions. If this is not the case, your doctor will refer you to a specialist for further examination if needed.

Further general information Your doctors and specialist nurses are in an ideal position to give you relevant information on your disease and treatment as they know your individual circumstances. Cancerbackup has a help line (0808 800 1234) and a prize winning video available in English, Italian, Urdu, Bengali, Gujarati & Hindi explaining Radiotherapy & Chemotherapy. Cancernet.co.uk has over 500 pages describing cancer, its management, practical tips and tool which patients, their carers and their doctors have found helpful during the cancer journey.