In the month dedicated to raising awareness of the disease, we remind you how to spot potential red flags and how important it is to stay vigilant
WORDS: LUCY ROBINSON PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
Talking about our toilet habits may make for an uncomfortable conversation, but being open about poo is crucial when it comes to raising awareness of bowel cancer. It is the fourth most common cancer in the UK – every 15 minutes someone in the UK will be diagnosed with the disease – and it’s the UK’s second biggest cancer killer.
“The cause of most bowel cancers is unknown, although some factors can increase the risk. Some of these you can’t do anything about, such as age and genetics, but around half of all cases could be prevented by a healthier lifestyle,” says Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive at Bowel Cancer UK.
While bowel cancer is most common in people over the age of 50, it can affect people of all ages and in the UK more than 2,600 people under 50 receive a diagnosis every year. In 2022, Dame Deborah James made headlines when she died at the age of 40. And there has been an increase in bowel cancer in younger people in the last decade.
“There are some clues about what might be going on,” says Professor Andrew Chan, co-lead of Cancer Grand Challenge PROSPECT, which is supported by the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK.
“Risk factors that underlie colorectal cancer, such as obesity, physical activity and alcohol use, seem to be driving some of this trend, but that’s not the full explanation. We’re digging into other factors, some of which are potentially unique to younger people.”
As April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, we highlight some of the symptoms to watch out for...
1 BLEEDING
A variety of different things could cause you to experience bleeding from your bottom or blood in your poo, such as haemorrhoids or constipation, but it could be more serious.
“If you have unexplained bleeding, that would be a warning sign,” says Professor Chan.
So you should speak to your GP if you notice any sort of rectal bleeding or bleeding in your bowel movements.
2 CHANGE IN BOWEL HABITS
Knowing what’s “normal” for you is important when it comes to being able to identify any changes in your bowel habits. You may notice you’re going to the toilet more or less frequently, or you may notice changes to the bowel movement’s consistency, or the level of control you have when you go.
“Unexplained changes to th
