Information on Bowel Cancer

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. Yet the latest data showed that one third of people who were sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit in England last year did not go on to complete it.

Detecting bowel cancer at the earliest stage makes you up to 9 times more likely to be successfully treated.

What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer can affect anyone, whatever your age, gender, ethnicity or where you live.

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.

What should I do if I have symptoms of bowel cancer?

If you have any of these symptoms, or if you’re worried about any changes that you notice, visit your GP and ask about an at-home test. It’s important to know that not everyone will have all the symptoms of bowel cancer, or they may get different symptoms at different times. Even if you have just one symptom, your GP will want to see you.

Bowel Cancer UK has gathered some very useful resources to help such as a symptoms diary so you can keep track of any changes.

It’s important to know what feels normal for you, as not everyone will experience the same symptoms, or they may have different symptoms at different times. If things don’t feel right or you notice a change in what’s normal for you, visit you GP as soon as you can.

What is an at-home test?

An at home-test or a Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) which is a non-invasive and simple diagnostic test for colorectal cancer, further information on these can be found here.

If I have already completed a screening at-home test do I need to do this again?

Your GP may ask you to complete another test if you present with concerning symptoms, this is because the thresholds for the test are different from the test you would have completed as part of screening.

Bowel Cancer Screening

If you're aged 56 to 74 and registered with a GP in England, you’ll be sent a kit in the post automatically, every two years and the NHS bowel cancer screening kit will be available to everyone aged 50 to 74 by 2025.
If a kit is sent to you, it’s meant for you. Even if you don’t have symptoms, it can detect signs of bowel cancer before you do. The kit can be completed in the privacy of your own bathroom using the simple step by step instructions on the box.
You only need to collect one tiny sample of poo using the plastic stick provided, pop it in the sample bottle and post it for free, to be tested.
If you’re sent the kit, help yourself by remembering to complete it. Put it by the loo. Don’t put it off.

Further information on screening can be found here.

Your test result

The test works by checking for tiny traces of blood, which may not be visible to the naked eye. If something is found, you will be invited to have further tests, usually at a hospital.

Lynch syndrome

• People diagnosed with Lynch syndrome are now invited for a colonoscopy to check for signs of bowel cancer by the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.
• People with Lynch syndrome have a higher-than-average risk of getting bowel cancer.
• Screening prevents up to3 in 5 people with Lynch syndrome from getting bowel cancer.
• People with Lynch syndrome will be automatically invited for colonoscopy surveillance every 2 years.
• Further information on Lynch can be found here.