Symptoms of bowel cancer
What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?
In the video below, oncologist Rebecca and Cancer Nurse Specialist Claire talk about the common symptoms of bowel cancer.
Bowel cancer is a general term for cancer that starts in either the colon or rectum. It might sometimes be called colorectal cancer.
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The symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- blood in or on your poo (stools), or bleeding from the back passage (rectum) – the blood may be bright red or dark
- a change in your normal bowel habit that happens for no obvious reason and lasts longer than 3 weeks – for example, diarrhoea or constipation
- unexplained weight loss
- pain in your tummy (abdomen) or back passage
- feeling that you have not emptied your bowel properly after you poo
- a lower than normal level of red blood cells (anaemia).
- unexplained tiredness, dizziness or breathlessness caused by anaemia.
Sometimes the cancer can cause a blockage (obstruction) in the bowel.or rectum. You may:
- feel constipated and bloated
- have tummy pain
- be sick (vomit).
Related pages
What should I do if I have symptoms of bowel cancer?
These symptoms can be caused by conditions other than colon or rectal cancer. But you should always have them checked by your doctor.
Many people are embarrassed or uncomfortable discussing bowel symptoms. But doctors are used to talking about these things. They may help put you at ease.
It is important that your GP refers you to a specialist if:
- you have symptoms that do not improve within a few weeks
- your symptoms get worse.
They can do tests to find out what might be causing the symptoms.
Getting support
We understand that having any symptoms of what could be cancer is worrying. The most important thing is to speak to your GP as soon as possible. We are also here if you need someone to talk to. You can:
Macmillan is here to support you. If you would like to talk, you can:
- call the Macmillan Support Line for free on 0808 808 00 00
- chat to our specialists online
- visit our bowel cancer support group on the Online Community. Whether you want to talk about cancer treatment, side effects or simply connect with others, this group is here for you.
Booklets and resources
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our bowel cancer information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at
informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
National Institute for Health and Care Excellent (NICE). Colorectal cancer. NICE guideline [NG151]. Updated December 2021. Available from: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/NG151 [accessed Jan 2023].
Cervantes A, Adam R, Rosello S, et al. Metastatic colorectal cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Annals of Oncology. 2023;34(1):10-32. Available from: www.annalsofoncology.org [accessed Jan 2023].
Date reviewed
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This means it is easy to use, up-to-date and based on the latest evidence. Learn more about how we produce our information.
The language we use
We want everyone affected by cancer to feel our information is written for them.
We want our information to be as clear as possible. To do this, we try to:
- use plain English
- explain medical words
- use short sentences
- use illustrations to explain text
- structure the information clearly
- make sure important points are clear.
We use gender-inclusive language and talk to our readers as ‘you’ so that everyone feels included. Where clinically necessary we use the terms ‘men’ and ‘women’ or ‘male’ and ‘female’. For example, we do so when talking about parts of the body or mentioning statistics or research about who is affected.
You can read more about how we produce our information here.
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