Tuesday 06 February 2024
Susan Long – Maggie's
You may be worried about bowel cancer, have been recently diagnosed, or you may be thinking of someone you care about.
This page has information about bowel cancer symptoms, getting diagnosed, managing treatment and side effects, and how ҹɫֱ can help.
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Bowel cancer is cancer that starts in the large bowel (large intestine).
It starts when cells in the large bowel grow in an uncontrolled way and form a tumour.
It is sometimes called:
The large bowel is made up of the colon and the rectum (back passage).
Colon cancer and rectal cancer are both types of bowel cancer.
These are split into sub-types depending on the cell the cancer starts in, including:
Bowel cancer can be primary or secondary.
Primary bowel cancer is bowel cancer that has not spread beyond the large bowel.
Secondary bowel cancer is when the cancer has spread from the bowel to other parts of the body.
This is sometimes called advanced bowel cancer, metastatic bowel cancer or stage 4 bowel cancer.
Anal cancer is a rare cancer that affects the bowel opening (anus). It is different from bowel cancer, and is often caused by the Human papilloma virus (HPV).
Small bowel cancer is a rare cancer that starts in the small bowel (small intestine). It is sometimes called upper gastrointestinal (upper GI) cancer.
What causes bowel cancer is often unknown, but there are factors that may increase your risk of developing it.
Some of these risk factors are specific to bowel cancer, including:
Other risk factors are common to all cancers. Find out more about reducing your risk of cancer.
Having risk factors does not necessarily mean you will get bowel cancer. But it is helpful to be aware of the risks so you can see a doctor if you have any concerns.
People over 50 are most at risk of getting bowel cancer.
In the UK, everyone aged between 60–74 is sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit every two years. Screening will be offered to people aged between 50–59 by April 2025.
You may be offered regular scans or blood tests if you have high-risk genetic factors or a family history of bowel cancer. Find out more about genetic testing for cancer.
Symptoms of bowel cancer often include changes to your bowel movements.
Sometimes, bowel cancer has no signs, but it can be detected early through screening.
When bowel cancer does cause symptoms, these may include:
Most people with these symptoms do not have bowel cancer. But if you do have symptoms, it is important to speak to your doctor.
If it is cancer, it will be easier to treat if it has been detected early.
If you have been having symptoms of bowel cancer, the first step will usually be to see your GP.
Your GP will ask you to describe your symptoms. Be as specific as you can to help your doctor understand what the problem might be.
It can feel embarrassing to talk about bowel movements, but your doctor is there to help.
You should also tell them about any previous bowel problems you have had, and if you have a family history of bowel cancer.
The doctor might:
A rectal exam is usually painless, but it can feel uncomfortable. You can ask for a chaperone or bring someone for support if you would prefer.
If your GP hasn't referred you to the hospital and your symptoms continue or get worse, you should make another GP appointment.
Find out more about preparing for your GP appointment.
Sometimes healthcare professionals use different words when talking about the bowel. For example:
Always ask if your doctor or nurse says something that you don't understand.
A gastroenterologist is a specialist in the digestive system which includes the bowel.
To find the cause of your symptoms, the gastroenterologist may arrange further tests, such as:
After these tests and scans, you will be given an appointment to receive your results.
Waiting for appointments, tests and results can be a difficult time, and you might find that asking some questions and preparing for your results helps. Find out more about how ҹɫֱ can help.
The doctor will explain if you have bowel cancer in your results appointment, and whether you need further tests and scans to see if the cancer has spread.
It is normal to feel overwhelmed or in shock after hearing that you have bowel cancer, and you might have a lot of information to process.
Our cancer support specialists are here to listen, to help you understand what your diagnosis means, and to find the right support for you.
Find your nearest ҹɫֱ to talk to us, or find out more about understanding a cancer diagnosis.
Treatment can be aimed at shrinking a tumour, removing the cancer completely, or controlling the symptoms that it causes.
You might be offered a combination of treatments.
The treatments most commonly offered for bowel cancer are:
Your cancer care team will work together to decide which treatment options could be best for you. Your doctor and specialist nurse will then discuss these with you.
You might want to get a second opinion before deciding on a treatment plan.
Making treatment decisions can feel daunting, and you might have lots of concerns or questions. Find out more about how ҹɫֱ can support you.
A bowel cancer diagnosis can affect your life in many ways. You may be dealing with:
Contact or visit your nearest ҹɫֱ centre and together we will find the right support for you.
You can also explore our cancer support pages for more information.
When treatment ends, it can leave you with mixed feelings of relief and uncertainty.
For many people, bowel cancer is treated successfully. For some, it comes back or is diagnosed at an advanced stage from the start.
We have more information on finishing treatment and treatment for advanced cancer, as well as courses and workshops to support you and your family beyond treatment.
We offer free expert psychological and practical support tailored to you, whatever stage you're at, and for friends and family too.
Last review: Nov 2024 | Next review: Nov 2027
Find information about bowel cancer, including colon and rectal cancer, or colorectal cancer, from symptoms and causes to testing and treatment.
From Cancer Research Uk (Cruk)
Last reviewed: 07 November 2024
Learn about the risk factors for developing colorectal cancer, as well as what you can do to help lower your risk.
From American Cancer Society
Last reviewed: 07 November 2024
Get to know the signs of symptoms of bowel cancer, and what to do if you have any. You can also download a symptoms diary to track symptoms and take to your GP appointment.
From Bowel Cancer Uk
Last reviewed: 07 November 2024
Information about the bowel cancer screening test available in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as who is eligible and how to do the test.
From Bowel Cancer Uk
Last reviewed: 07 November 2024
Find out about colon cancer and rectal cancer (bowel cancer), including a video with information from a clinical oncologist.
From Macmillan Cancer Support
Last reviewed: 07 November 2024
An overview of the systems used for staging and grading bowel cancer, and what each stage and grade means.
From Bowel Cancer Uk
Last reviewed: 07 November 2024
Information about preparing for treatment, as well as treatment options and follow-ups for bowel cancer.
From Cancer Research Uk (Cruk)
Last reviewed: 07 November 2024
Information and support relating to advanced bowel cancer, including treatments, clinical trials, and real life stories.
From Bowel Cancer Uk
Last reviewed: 07 November 2024
Information about small bowel cancer, which is different from bowel cancer.
From Cancer Research Uk (Cruk)
Last reviewed: 07 November 2024
Information about anal cancer and support available.
From Anal Cancer Foundation
Last reviewed: 07 November 2024
An A-Z list of information and factsheets to help you manage living with a stoma.
From Colostomy Uk
Last reviewed: 07 November 2024
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