Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers to be diagnosed in the UK. You should consider speaking to a doctor if you find that your stools are looser than normal, it’s been revealed.
Bowel cancer is a general term for any cancer that develops in the large bowel, and it may sometimes be known as colon or rectal cancer.
The early warning signs of bowel cancer can be very subtle, and many people may not be aware they’re at risk.
But diagnosing the condition early is absolutely crucial, as it improves the chances of a successful treatment.
One of the key warning signs of bowel cancer is having persistent loose stools.
Some bowel cancer patients find that they develop diarrhoea as one of their symptoms, according to charity Bowel Cancer UK.
You may also feel the need to pass more stools than you’re used to, it added.
But, just because you have diarrhoea, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have bowel cancer.
Diarrhoea is very common, and could be caused by a number of conditions.
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“Bowel cancer is very treatable but the earlier it’s diagnosed, the easier it is to treat,” said the charity.
“People whose cancer is diagnosed at an early stage have a much higher chance of successful treatment than those whose cancer has become more widespread.
“Tell your GP if you have noticed any persistent and unexplained changes in your bowel habit, especially if you also have bleeding from your back passage.
“You may have looser poo and you may need to poo more often than normal. Or you may feel as though you’re not going to the toilet often enough or you might not feel as though you’re not fully emptying your bowels.”
Diarrhoea affects most people at some point in their lifetime, but it’s usually nothing to worry about.
It normally passes by itself within a few days, or up to a week, said the NHS.
Your diarrhoea may also be caused by gastroenteritis, anxiety, some medications, or irritable bowel syndrome.
You should speak to a doctor if your diarrhoea is particularly frequent or severe, or if it’s accompanied by persistent vomiting, a severe stomach ache, or if your stools are dark-coloured or black.
The most common bowel cancer symptoms include a persistent change to your bowel habit, and finding blood in your stools.
The blood may appear to be a darker colour, which is a sign of bleeding in the stomach.
More than 90 percent of all bowel cancer causes occur in people over the age of 50.
You could lower your risk of the disease by cutting back on the amount of alcohol in your diet, and by giving up smoking, if you’re a smoker.
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