Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
40TUDE CURING COLON CANCER
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Find out about colon cancer Donate Get screened for colon cancer
  • Twitter
Menu
  • Who we are
    • Why we exist
    • Partners and funders
    • Our Ambassadors
    • Our Story
    • Our Details
  • About colon cancer
    • About colon cancer
    • Signs and symptoms
    • Screening options
  • How we help
    • The difference we make
    • Projects we're funding
  • Get involved
    • Donate
    • Fundraise for us
      • Raise funds for 40tude
      • Our Fundraisers
    • Support our projects
    • Corporate partnerships
  • What's on
    • 40tude Challenges
    • Our Supporters' Challenges
    • Blogs
  • Sign up for our News
  • 07826515916
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Signs and symptoms of colon cancer
  1. About colon cancer
  2. Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of colon cancer

No-one likes to speak openly about their bowels but it is really important for all of us to be aware of the symptoms of colon cancer and to report any changes to your doctor.

Heightened awareness of colon cancer is particularly important for anyone over 45.  Any abdominal symptoms or change in bowel habit should be discussed immediately with your doctor, whatever your age.

The following list of symptoms of colon cancer has been taken from an article written by Dr. Mark Porter in The Times newspaper about bowel cancer, what to look out for and to report:

  • Bleeding — blood, on the toilet paper, mixed with your stool or in the pan — is a relatively common symptom and often nothing to do with cancer. However, it might be, so every case should be reported and an underlying cause determined. And by the way, irritable bowel syndrome never causes bleeding
     
  • A persistent change in bowel habit (typically six weeks or more). Any prolonged change is suspicious, but loose bowels/diarrhoea, particularly if you need to get to the loo in a hurry, tend to be more worrying

  • Cancer can also cause pain in your abdomen or back passage, but most cases are painless

  • Unexplained weight loss. Always a red flag and not just linked to bowel cancer
  • Shortness of breath and fatigue. Bowel cancers can cause bleeding for months without you noticing, leading to severe iron deficiency and anaemia

Please don't put it off: any abdominal symptoms or change in bowel habit should be discussed immediately with your doctor whatever your age. 

We recommend that you are screened regularly for this preventable type of cancer, from your mid-40s.  

Get screened for colon cancer

Published: 9th March, 2020

Updated: 6th April, 2022

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Sign up for our News

Sign up for our News

Sign up here to be added to our mailing list to be sure you don't miss out on any of 40tude's latest news Read more

Published: 1st October, 2020

Updated: 26th November, 2021

Author: Kate Sanday

Latest tweet

  • Best of luck to Dr. Michele Marshall of @BowelsOfStMarks and her colleague Dr. Elaine Hui who are taking on the… https://t.co/fDr3DoGTX9

    19thMay, 2022 @curebowelcancer
  • Sign up now for our Transylvania Three Peaks Challenge from 18th-24th Sept. Summit three peaks over four days on o… https://t.co/iUUGRRWrc6

    22ndApril, 2022 @curebowelcancer
  • They did it! Congratulations to everyone who completed our incredible Telemark challenge today, looking good in the… https://t.co/Ceb4b8eHr8

    1stApril, 2022 @curebowelcancer

Sign up for our newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

Find us

Registered Office
12 Ranelagh Avenue
London
SW13 0BP

+44 (0)7826515916
[email protected]
Fundraising Regulator logo

Links

  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Gift Aid your donation

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Registered Charity Number 1160500