Six Early Bowel Cancer Signs Two Doctors Say You Should Always See A GP About

Medical advice provided by Dr Asiya Maula, private GP at The Health Suite, and Dr Donald Grant, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy.

Recently, new data found that 40% of bowel cancer cases occur among under-65s.

We recently asked two doctors, Dr Asiya Maula and Dr Donald Grant, to share their tips for reducing your risk of developing bowel cancer as much as possible. 

And we also asked them to share the symptoms they’d never ignore – after all, an awful lot of UK adults can’t name a single sign of the condition. 

Here are their answers: 

1) Dr Maula 

“Symptoms I would never ignore include persistent changes in bowel habit lasting more than three weeks, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, ongoing abdominal pain, or persistent fatigue,” she said. 

Bowel changes can include diarrhoea, constipation, or softer stools.

And despite recent data showing an increasing number of under-65s with bowel cancer, she added, “Younger people often dismiss these symptoms because they don’t perceive themselves to be at risk.”

Lastly, the doctor explained, “Rectal bleeding should never automatically be attributed to haemorrhoids without proper assessment. It is always safer to investigate early”.

2) Dr Grant 

Dr Grant also said age shouldn’t be a factor; some symptoms should always be taken seriously. 

“Regardless of age, there are plenty of indicators people should be aware of, which can lead to early intervention and a greater chance of recovery,” he said.

“Symptoms such as changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue and abdominal pain should never be ignored.” 

Having one or even a couple of these symptoms doesn’t mean you definitely have bowel cancer. 

But, “While these symptoms are often caused by less serious conditions, it’s important to seek medical advice if they persist, as they can also be common signs of bowel cancer.” the doctor ended.