A recent, persistent change in bowel habit or blood in the stool
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer or colon cancer, is cancer in any part of the colon or rectum.
Common symptoms of bowel cancer can include:
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Not everyone experiences symptoms, particularly in the early stages of bowel cancer. The above symptoms may be suggestive of bowel cancer, but they can also be due to other medical conditions, some foods or medicines.
Don't delay in talking to your GP is you are experiencing any of the described symptoms for two weeks or more, because when diagnosed early 90 percent of cases can be successfully treated.
Blood in the stool or rectal bleeding should never be ignored.
However old you are, you should never be told by your GP that you are too young to have bowel cancer.
While bowel cancer is more common in people aged 55 and over, it increasingly affects people of all ages.
Ask your GP to be referred to further investigations.
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