Bowel Cancer Symptoms Can Save Lives

Bowel Cancer Symptoms Can Save Lives. Bowel cancer is a severe and life-threatening condition, yet it’s highly treatable if caught early. But how can you tell if something is amiss? While the three main symptoms of bowel cancer—blood in the stools (feces), a change in bowel habits, and abdominal (tummy) pain—indicate the disease, they are also prevalent.

Being on the lookout for any changes in your body is vital for health maintenance, so let’s look at what to watch out for when spotting the signs of bowel cancer. Together we’ll explore these three tell-tale symptoms so that you can get informed, get checked out, and get help—quickly. We may be talking about a serious condition, but life doesn’t have to be that way if we all stay vigilant.

Blood in the Stool: A Possible Sign of Bowel Cancer

Blood in the stool never is ignored. It can be a sign of severe illnesses like bowel cancer. On the hand, it could be a sign that something is wrong with your large intestine, so getting it checked, regardless of your age, is essential.

If you notice any changes in your stools—like variations in color, shape, or consistency—or if you see any traces of blood, contact your doctor right away. Your GP may suggest many tests to identify the cause of the bleeding. In addition, they may refer you to a specialist for further tests and investigations if they suspect it could be bowel cancer.

It’s worth noting that stool blood can sometimes come from other sources besides cancer. Such as certain medicines (e.g., aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), hemorrhoids, or inflammation in the intestines. However, only a consultation and diagnosis from a doctor will give you an accurate diagnosis.

Changes in Bowel Habits: Increased Frequency or Looser Stools

It may indicate a more serious issue if you experience a change in your bowel habits or an increased frequency of loose stools. So listening to your body and reporting any changes to your doctor is essential.

One significant change to listen for is blood in your stools, a common bowel cancer symptom that should never be overlooked or ignored. Even if you find minimal amounts on the toilet tissue or the surface of the stools, it’s essential to discuss this with your doctor.

It’s also common for people with bowel cancer to experience diarrhea or looser stools than usual, leading to further disruption of their daily lives. If you have had looser stools for more than four weeks, seeking medical advice as soon as possible is essential.

Abdominal Pain: Persistent Discomfort Could Indicate Bowel Cancer

Abdominal pain is another symptom of bowel cancer that you should be aware of. It’s normal for everyone to experience abdominal discomfort occasionally. But if it persists and doesn’t go away, you should take notice.

Pain in the abdomen can come in different forms, such as:

A dull ache that’s always present
Severe cramps
Bloating and wind

Pain can also occur in other body areas, such as the back or pelvis. And while it’s not always a cause for concern. When this type of pain is continuous and doesn’t go away after a few days or weeks, it may be a sign of bowel cancer or other illnesses that need to be checked out by a doctor.

Other Symptoms to Be Aware Of Bowel Cancer

Bowel cancer can have other symptoms, too, and it’s essential to be aware of them. But remember that these symptoms are also link with many other conditions.

Here are some other potential symptoms to watch out for:

Unexplained weight loss
Anemia—having a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells or hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the blood
Extreme tiredness
Loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Pain or a lump in your abdomen
Difficulty going to the toilet
Swelling in your abdomen
Shortness of breath or chest pain
Itching around your anus (bottom) area or a lump near your anus

If you experience any of these symptoms for more than two weeks or get worse. You should speak with a doctor about them as soon as possible to get checked out—better safe than sorry!

Don’t Ignore These Bowel Cancer Symptoms: Early Detection Is Key

Bowel cancer may present in several different ways. However, the three main symptoms of bowel cancer that you should never ignore are:

Blood in your stools (feces): This is usually the most common symptom, and it could appear as fresh, bright, or dark red streaks or patches. However, it’s important to note that it’s normal to have some traces of blood after a bowel movement. Mainly if you’ve constipated—so if you are concerned, the best thing is to talk to your GP.
A change in bowel habit: This includes more frequent, looser stools, a feeling of needing to go to the toilet more often than usual, or feeling constipated for an extended period. Again, this is common for people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). But if something is off and these changes last longer than six weeks, it’s worth getting check out by a doctor.
Abdominal (tummy) pain: Although abdominal pain can indicate other diseases. It can also be an early sign of bowel cancer, so always tell your doctor if you feel chronic pain after eating or while going to the bathroom.

It is better to be secure than sorry when it comes to symptoms like these. Early detection is critical when managing and controlling bowel cancer, so don’t ignore any signs that could prove consequential down the line.

Conclusion

While the three main symptoms of bowel cancer—blood in the stools (feces). A change in bowel habits, and abdominal (tummy) pain—indicate the disease, they are also prevalent. One significant change to listen for is blood in your stools. A common bowel cancer symptom that should never be overlook or ignore. Abdominal pain is another symptom of bowel cancer that you should be aware of. And while it’s not always a cause for concern, when this type of pain is continuous and doesn’t go away after a few days or weeks. It may be a sign of bowel cancer or other illnesses that need to be checkout by a doctor.