What is Bowel Cancer?
Bowel cancer is a type of cancer which begins in the large bowel (colon) and the back passage (rectum). You may have also heard about this type of cancer also being called colorectal cancer.
Every year, around 4,000 people in Scotland are diagnosed with bowel cancer. It is the third most common cancer in Scotland. Early detection and diagnosis of bowel cancer have been shown to increase a person’s survival rate.
You may be at higher risk of developing bowel cancer if you have a strong family history of bowel cancer, you have a genetic condition, or you have a bowel condition such as colitis.
Symptoms of bowel cancer may include:
- An unexplained and persistent change in the usual pattern of bowel function
- Blood in your stool or bleeding when passing a bowel motion (without other symptoms of piles/haemorrhoids)
- Unexplained or unintentional weight loss
- Extreme tiredness/lethargy (with no obvious reason as to why)
- Persistent lower stomach (abdominal) pain, discomfort or bloating (always caused by eating)
These symptoms listed above are usually caused by other medical conditions. But if you have any of them it is important to see your doctor.
Treatment for Bowel Cancer
Treatment for bowel cancer depends on:
- whether you have colon or rectal cancer
- the stage of your cancer