Lets talk about bowel cancer

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness month.  An annual opportunity to talk more openly about bowel cancer symptoms and the difference an early diagnosis can make.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, and the second biggest cancer killer.

It can affect anyone, whatever your age, gender or ethnicity but the earlier bowel cancer is detected, the more treatable it’s likely to be. In fact, more than 9 in 10 people survive bowel cancer when it is diagnosed at the earliest stage.

So, what is bowel cancer?

The bowel is part of the digestive system. It is made up of the small bowel and the large bowel. The large bowel is made up of the colon and rectum.

Cancer is when abnormal cells start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way. The cells can grow into surrounding tissues or organs, and may spread to other areas of the body.

It is cancer affecting the large bowel which is typically called bowel cancer, although you may also hear it being called colorectal cancer meaning cancer in the colon or rectum.

Knowing the symptoms

Knowing what to look out for, can help ensure you seek medical support at a stage where cancer can be detected earlier.

Symptoms can include:

• bleeding from your bottom
• blood in your poo
• a change in your pooing habits. You might be going more or less often, or have diarrhoea or constipation that might come and go
• losing weight but you’re not sure why
• feeling very tired all the time but you’re not sure why
• a pain or lump in your tummy

Having these symptoms doesn’t always mean you have bowel cancer, but it’s still important to find out what’s causing them. It’s also important to know that not everyone will have all the symptoms of bowel cancer, or they may get different symptoms at different times.

Talking about poo can make people feel a range of different emotions including embarrassment but please don’t let that stop you from contacting your GP practice.  

GPs across East Berkshire, Surrey Heath, North East Hampshire and Farnham are leading the way on referrals for patients with possible bowel cancer using Faecal Immunochemical Tests also known as FIT kits.

FIT kits are helping detect cancer sooner, enabling treatment to begin earlier and increasing the chances of successful recovery. They are also helping to ensure fewer patients need to undergo invasive tests.

Your GP may ask you to undertake this at-home test. You’ll be asked to collect a small amount of poo in the privacy of your own home. This is sent to a lab where it will be tested for blood. The result of this test will tell your GP whether you need further tests.

If you’d like further information on bowel cancer you can visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer

Have you been invited to take part in bowel cancer screening?

Nationally each month, the NHS posts out more than half a million free kits as part of its bowel cancer screening programme. People aged 60 to 74 years who are registered with a GP practice and who live in England are automatically sent a FIT kit every two years.

If you are concerned that you may have missed your invitation to take part in screening or have lost or thrown away your kit, call the free bowel cancer screening helpline for advice on 0800 707 60 60.

More information on bowel cancer and the screening programme can be found at: nhs.uk/bowel-screening