Bowel cancer can cut people’s lives short. Don’t put your life on the line. Become familiar with bowel cancer symptoms – such as the sign in your stools – to help prioritise your health.

Fairly common, bowel cancer can reveal itself in your bowel habits. For one, a persistent and unexplained change in bowel habits is enough to raise an eyebrow.

One sign to look out for is the shape of your stools. Are they loose and watery? Also known as diarrhoea, persistent looser stools may indicate bowel cancer.

People may also experience the sensation to use the toilet for a number two more often than usual.

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Additionally, people can feel as though – no matter how many times they use the loo – that the bowels aren’t fully emptied.

Bleeding from the back passage can be an alarming symptom to wipe away on a tissue.

Although this doesn’t necessarily mean you have bowel cancer, it is still noteworthy.

Bright red blood may come from haemorrhoids or piles (swollen blood vessels).

Dark red or black blood may come from the bowel or stomach.

The NHS states a persistent lower abdominal pain, bloating or discomfort could also be a symptom of bowel cancer.

The health body elaborates, saying that the tummy pain is always caused by eating, and may be associated with loss of appetite or significant and unexplained weight loss.

Another symptom of bowel cancer includes extreme tiredness for no obvious reason.

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This is because bowel cancer may lead to a lack of iron in the body, which can lead to anaemia – which is a lack of red blood cells.

If you’re suffering from anaemia, your skin may look very pale.

It’s worth noting that these symptoms could highlight less dangerous health conditions that can be treated or controlled.

However, these symptoms are worthy of a doctor’s attention.

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Bowel Cancer UK highlights that April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.

The charity says: “Around 268,000 people living in the UK today have been diagnosed with bowel cancer and thousands are currently facing weeks of social isolation because the risk of coronavirus to them is so serious.”

For those concerned they are presenting symptoms of bowel cancer during this global pandemic, it’s still important to seek clinical advice.

GP surgeries have been advised to offer online consultations so people don’t have to visit their doctor.

This is to help prevent the spread of coronavirus at such a crucial time in the pandemic.

Current government guidelines on social distancing and self isolation are put in place to help curb the number of infections and deaths from the notoriously contagious virus.

Should you be presenting symptoms of bowel cancer, an online consultation between you and a healthcare professional will discuss the next steps in this unprecedented time.

For more information on bowel cancer, visit bowelcanceruk.org

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