Health experts have provided guidance on detecting bowel cancer, highlighting that one of the key indicators is the color of blood in your stool. Here’s what you need to know.
Whether due to a dietary issue or a stomach bug, various factors can cause changes in your stool, including bowel cancer.
Experts emphasize that symptoms of bowel cancer may include a change in your normal bowel habits or blood in your stool. This condition can initially manifest in the large bowel (colon cancer) or the rectum (rectal cancer). While distinguishing between common bowel issues and something more serious can be challenging, medical professionals note that the color of your stool is a significant indicator.
According to Cancer Research UK, if you notice blood in your stool that resembles the color of tar, you should urgently see a doctor. The website explains, “Blood from higher up in the bowel doesn’t look bright red. It goes dark red or black and can make your poo look like tar. This type of bleeding can be a sign of cancer higher up the bowel or could be from a bleeding stomach ulcer, for example.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Porter, who writes a column for The Times, explained that bleeding is a common “red flag.” He said, “Common red flags include bleeding from your bottom (often not cancer but never normal) and/or an unexplained and prolonged change in bowel habit (lasting more than a few weeks), typically becoming looser rather than constipated.”
Porter added, “Call or email your practice, outlining your symptoms (and any relevant family history of bowel cancer), stating that you are concerned. What happens next will depend on practice policy but will often start with a stool test that you can do at home to detect or confirm bleeding, along with some blood tests. This will be followed by an appointment with the GP to review your symptoms and results. This typically includes a physical examination and a rectal examination.”
Other Possible Symptoms of Bowel Cancer:
- A lump that your doctor can feel in your back passage or abdomen, more commonly on the right side
- The feeling of needing to strain in your back passage (as if you need to poo)
- Weight loss
- Pain in your abdomen or back passage
- Tiredness or breathlessness
Symptoms of Bowel Obstruction:
- Cramping pains in the abdomen
- Feeling bloated
- Constipation
- Being sick