Blood in stool - Dark blood get a check up straight away.
Bright red blood or spotting is also of concern but is much more likely to be caused by piles.
A change in bowel habits can point to things going wrong if you have prolonged bouts of constipation or diarrhorea
If you experience abdominal pain, if you feel tired, or suffer unexplained weight loss.
These symptoms do not mean you have bowel cancer, several other conditions can cause similiar symptoms
Several Bowel Conditions can have similiar symptoms to Cancer.
These are:-
Piles = Anal pain , Itching and bleeding, huge amounts of blood in the toilet bowl or Bright blood on toilet paper are nearly always caused by piles.
Anal Fissure = A tear in skin or gut can cause bright red streaks on toilet paper, pain going to the loo.
Polyps = small growths which are best removed can cause bleeding and a change of bowel habits. People which a large number of polyps are at risk and will be advised usually to have surgery please see The summary of Sues story later on page.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome = A collection of symptoms including wind, changes in bowel habit and stomach pain. The cause of IBS is a matter of speculation at this time and no real evidence has been found to back any of the likely contenders.
Diverticular disease = Common in older people it is where small pouches or pockets are formed in the wall of the large bowel. It may cause similar symptoms as IBS.
Ulcerative Colitis = mucus and blood when you evacuate your bowel. This increases your risk of bowel cancer.
About one in eighteen people get bowel cancer. Cancer in the small intestine is rare. We do not know why some people get cancer and others do not but certain factors are known to put people at greater risk.
A low fruit, vegtable and fibre diet.
Long term conditions of the bowel.
Inactive life style with little or no excercise
FAP which is a disease which has large quantities of polpys growing in the bowel. This is usually inherited but there are always initial cases which prove the rule.
If you have a family history of bowel cancer then ask you doctor about the screening program or do the new self test program as soon as possible and get checked out regularly