Doctor Shares 6 Signs Of Bowel Cancer Young People Need To Watch Out For
My GP recently laughed at my suggestion that I’m “demonically obsessed” with fibre, but it’s true – I like to get over 20g in before dinner if I can.
That’s partly because it’s been linked to a decreased risk of bowel cancer, which is becoming more common among younger people around the world.
In fact, 90% of us fail to reach the NHS’s 30g-a-day fibre recommendation (Brits average 20g a day).
In an Instagram reel, Dr Joseph Salhab (who goes by @thestomachdoc online) said: “I’m seeing colon cancer in younger and younger people.”
Colon cancer is a type of bowel cancer that originates in the colon, a part of the large bowel (or large intestine). Small bowel cancer (or cancer of the small intestine) is much rarer, NHS Inform says.
Over 2,600 people under the age of 50 are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK every year – and the number is increasing, according to Bowel Cancer UK.
Dr Salhab added: “These are some of the top warning signs people have told me that have led them to finally get checked out.”
1. Rectal bleeding
The NHS lists this as a potential symptom of bowel cancer, though it can also be caused by anal fissures and piles. The blood can look “red or black,” the health service said.
You should see your GP if the issue goes on for three weeks or more.
2. Unexplained abdominal pain
If it “keeps happening no matter what,” see your GP, Dr Salhab said.
Visit your doctor if your stomach pain gets worse, returns, or does not go away, the NHS agreed.
3. Weakness or fatigue
The health service said this symptom might be accompanied by a shortness of breath. This is because bowel cancer can cause anaemia, a condition which affects how much blood can get around your body.
4. A change in bowel habits
Thinner, “pencil-like” stools can sometimes be a sign of bowel obstruction. But so can becoming “more constipated,” Dr Salhab said, or having long-lasting diarrhoea more often than usual.
5. Poor appetite and unexplained weight loss
If you’re losing weight without trying, especially if you notice other symptoms, book an appointment with your doctor.
6. Night sweats and a fever
This is especially worrying if they leave you “drenched” in sweat, Dr Salhab warned.
Cancer Research UK said this is a common sign for a number of cancers.
When should I see a doctor about my bowel health?
The NHS recommends that if you have any of the above symptoms for three weeks or more, you should see a GP.
It also advises to seek an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if your stool is black or dark red or if you’ve had bloody diarrhoea.
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- you’re bleeding non-stop from your bottom
- there’s a lot of blood, for example, the toilet water turns red or you see large blood clots.