A new study has highlighted the four "red flag" symptoms people should watch out for in order to diagnose bowel cancer as early as possible.
The devastating form of cancer - also known as colorectal cancer - is the fourth most common variation of the disease in the UK and accounts for 11% of new cancer cases each year. It is also the second most deadly, killing around 16,000 people each year.
And experts, including with the NHS in the North East, are concerned that the illness is becoming more prevalent in younger people. The number of under-50s diagnosed has risen sharply, and last month Professor Sir Liam Donaldson - chair of the North East and North Cumbria integrated care board and formerly the England's chief medical officer - warned "this is a growing issue of growing importance. moving on quickly, very quickly".
