April marks Bowel Cancer Awareness Month which aims to spread understanding, awareness and raise funds for the condition.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK but can be treated is caught early.
Nearly 43,000 diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). every year and currently 68,000 people living with the diagnosis in the UK today, according to Bowel Cancer UK.
READ MORE - Trigger foods of IBS you must avoid including bread and milk according to experts
As the Daily Record reports, symptoms of the condition can be often overlooked as many overlap with signs of cancer
Depending on where the types of cancer starts, it can often be called colon or rectal cancer and is one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer in the UK.
Bowel cancer can affect people people of all ages although most diagnoses are amongst those over 60 and according to Bowel Cancer UK, one in 15 men and one in 18 women will be diagnosed with bowel cancer during their lifetime.
The Mirror spoke to a group of experts to ask some key questions about the disease, what to look out for, including hard to spot symptoms.
What are the common symptoms of bowel cancer?
Dr Luke Pratsides, the lead GP at Numan, said: “There are some important signs and symptoms to look out for with regards to bowel cancer which include: noticing blood in your stool, a change in your bowel habit with regard to diarrhoea or constipation that persists for more than 4 weeks, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain and the feeling that you need to pass stools, even though your bowels are already empty.
"If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important you see your GP urgently for further investigation.”
These symptoms are echoed by the London General Practice, which lists the following symptoms:
- Bleeding from the back passage and/or blood in your stool
- A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit
- A feeling of needing to pass stool, even after opening your bowels.
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason
- A pain or lump in your abdomen
Is bowel cancer easy to spot?
Clinical Director and Superintendent Pharmacist at Medicine Direct, Hussain Abdeh, said: “Bowel cancer can be difficult to diagnose outright as the symptoms are quite generic.
"When you see your GP, they will normally perform a digital rectal examination, which may be uncomfortable but takes less than one minute to carry out. You will also be asked for a stool sample, which will be examined for traces of blood.”
He added: “It can be hard to spot small bowel cancer as many of the symptoms are vague.”
What to do if you think you have bowel cancer symptoms?
“To see your GP urgently”, said Dr Pratsides. “We hear a lot these days in the media about how hard it is to see your GP but don't be put off by this. If you describe symptoms of bowel cancer you will get an appointment.”
Mr Hussain said: “As with any type of potential cancer symptom, the best course of action for anyone to take would be to visit their doctor. Do not be embarrassed about talking to your doctor if you have any worrying changes in your bowel habits, or if you are exhibiting any other potential bowel cancer symptoms.”
Is bowel cancer difficult to treat?
Bowel cancer treatment, like many cancers, is dependent on the development of the disease when it gets noticed.
“How difficult it is to treat bowel cancer depends on how far the cancer has spread and where it is in the bowel”, said Mr Hussian. “Most cases of bowel cancer require surgery for effective treatment. Sometimes, this is combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or biological treatments; the best course of treatment varies from case to case.”
Treatment for the condition has been improving. Abbas Kanani, a pharmacist at Chemist Click, said: “The survival rate over 10 years is around 50% for bowel cancer, and the bowel survival rate has more than doubled over the last 40 year in the UK.”
