Read press release Bowel cancer symptoms
This page tells you about the symptoms of large bowel cancer (colorectal cancer). You can find information about
Bowel cancer symptoms
The symptoms of large bowel cancer can include
- Bleeding from the back passage (rectum) or blood in your stools
- A lasting change in normal bowel habits towards diarrhoea or looser stools
- A lump in your abdomen (more common on the right side) or in your rectum
- A straining feeling in the rectum
- Losing weight
- Pain in your abdomen or rectum
- Anaemia (a low level of red blood cells) caused by the tumour bleeding, which can lead to tiredness and sometimes breathlessness
Cancer of the bowel may cause a blockage (a bowel obstruction). The symptoms of this are griping pains in the abdomen, feeling bloated, constipation, and being sick.
Seeing your GP
All these symptoms can be caused by other diseases, including piles (haemorrhoids), infections or inflammatory bowel disease. If you are worried about any symptoms, do see your GP. The combination of symptoms and your age is important and will alert your doctor if there is a possibility of bowel cancer.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the about bowel cancer section.
The symptoms of colorectal cancer can include
- Bleeding from the back passage (rectum) or blood in your stools
- A change in normal bowel habits to diarrhoea or looser stools, lasting longer than 6 weeks
- A lump that your doctor can feel in your back passage or abdomen (more commonly on the right side)
- A feeling of needing to strain in your back passage (as if you needed to pass a bowel motion)
- Losing weight
- Pain in your abdomen or back passage
- A lower than normal level of red blood cells (anaemia)
Because bowel tumours can bleed, cancer of the bowel often causes a shortage of red blood cells. This is called anaemia and may cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.
Sometimes cancer can block the bowel. This is called a bowel obstruction. The symptoms include
- Griping pains in the abdomen
- Feeling bloated
- Constipation
- Being sick
All these symptoms can be caused by other diseases, apart from cancer. Many of these other conditions are much less serious than bowel cancer, such as piles (haemorrhoids), infections or inflammatory bowel disease. If you are young and have bleeding from the back passage with itching and soreness, you are much more likely to have piles than bowel cancer. Many people with colorectal cancer don't have these symptoms.
If you are worried about any symptoms that you have, let your GP know so that they can organise tests if necessary.
If you are worried about symptoms that you think could be caused by bowel cancer, go to your GP. Your doctor will take account of your age and symptoms to decide whether there is a possibility of bowel cancer. Depending on your age and your symptoms, you may need to see a bowel cancer specialist urgently, particularly if you have
- A lump in the right side of your abdomen or back passage that your GP can feel
- Anaemia
- A change in bowel habits to looser or more frequent stools, lasting 6 weeks or more
- Bleeding from the back passage
There is more about how your age affects the urgency of these symptoms on the should I see a bowel cancer specialist page.
The earlier a cancer is picked up, the easier it is to treat and the more likely the treatment is to be successful. So it is important to see your GP as soon as possible if you notice worrying symptoms.
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While you're reading this we're making real progress in our fight to beat all cancers, including bowel cancer – our research has lead to improvements in both screening and treatment.
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Clive's story
“I went to see my GP after I noticed some blood in my stools. My cancer was caught in the very early stages and thanks to excellent treatment I now have my life back again”
Clive
