The main symptoms of bowel cancer include blood in your poo, a change in your toileting habits and losing weight – but new research found that many Brits are actually unaware of these crucial signs
Almost 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK but only one in four Brits are able to identify the key warning signs of the disease, new research has revealed.
The study found that around one in four people aged 45 do not care about their bowel health, despite UK bowel cancer rates being forecast to rise by a third among under-50s due to obesity, poor diets, and an increase in alcohol consumption. The study, carried out by Newfoundland Diagnostics, also discovered that 49 million Brits cannot recognise the symptoms of bowel cancer, which is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK.
Bowel cancer can be found anywhere in the large bowel, which includes the colon and rectum. Screening can pick up bowel cancer early, making it easier to treat. Charity Bowel Cancer UK shared a list of symptoms you should be aware of and it highlighted bowel cancer can affect anyone, whatever your age, gender, ethnicity or where you live
While having these symptoms does not always mean you have bowel cancer, it is important to find out what is causing them. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should visit your GP and ask for an at-home test. Symptoms can include:
- Bleeding from your bottom
- Blood in your poo
- A change in your pooing habits
- Losing weight but you’re not sure why
- Feeling very tired all the time but you’re not sure why
- A pain or lump in your tummy
To help get the nation testing, Newfoundland Diagnostics announced it is offering free Bowel Health tests – worth £10 each – this Bowel Cancer Awareness Month with any test purchased throughout April. Frederick Manduca, co-founder of Newfoundland Diagnostics, said: “These findings reveal there remains a substantial amount of ignorance when it comes to bowel health. It’s a topic that people might find slightly embarrassing to discuss, but it’s crucial that we’re all able to detect and understand symptoms of bowel health issues.
“Early diagnosis has a significant impact on survival chances, which is why we’re determined to put the power back in people’s hands and save lives through early detection. Through simple testing and understanding symptoms, we can all do our part to protect ourselves and educate others.” To receive your free Bowel Health test, use code BOWELFREE at checkout when purchasing any other health test in April at www.newfoundland.io.
The treatment you will have for bowel cancer depends on its size, on whether it is in your colon or rectum, or both, if it has spread to other parts of your body, if it has certain genetic changes, as well as your age and general health. Patients may be offered a combination of treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted medicines, explains the NHS.
According to Cancer Research UK, around 90 per cent of people with stage 1 bowel cancer will survive for five years or more after they are diagnosed. The survival rate is 85 per cent among those with stage 2 bowel cancer and 65 per cent for those who have stage 3 bowel cancer.
Based on data from people diagnosed between 2016 and 2020, Cancer Research UK says around 10 out of 100 people – around 10 per cent – with stage 4 bowel cancer will survive their cancer for five years or more after they are diagnosed. Cancer Research UK adds: “If the cancer has spread into the liver and the surgeon can remove it, more than 40 out of 100 people (more than 40%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after their operation.”