Even symptoms that sound concerning may ultimately have a relatively straightforward explanation.
The purpose of recognizing warning signs is not to scare yourself. It is to know when it makes sense to get checked.
When Should You Talk to a Doctor?
Consider making an appointment if you have a persistent or unexplained change in your bowel habits, blood in your stool, unexplained weight loss, ongoing abdominal symptoms, or unusual fatigue.
Don’t wait until symptoms become severe.
NHS guidance notes that bowel cancer symptoms can include changes in bowel frequency, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, bloating, unexplained weight loss, and unusual tiredness. It recommends speaking with a healthcare professional when concerning symptoms persist.
Your healthcare professional may ask questions such as:
When did the symptoms begin?
How often do they occur?
Have they become worse?
Have you noticed blood in your stool?
Have your bowel habits changed?
Have you lost weight unintentionally?
Do you have abdominal pain?
Do you have a family history of colorectal cancer?
Have you previously had colon polyps?
Do you have inflammatory bowel disease?
What medications are you taking?
These questions can help determine which tests, if any, are appropriate.
How Is Colon Cancer Diagnosed?
Symptoms alone cannot confirm colon cancer.
Doctors use a combination of medical history, physical examination, laboratory testing, stool testing, imaging, and procedures when appropriate.
One of the main diagnostic procedures is a colonoscopy.
During a colonoscopy, a healthcare professional uses a flexible tube with a camera to examine the inside of the colon and rectum. If an abnormal area or polyp is found, a small tissue sample may be removed for laboratory examination.
The NHS identifies colonoscopy as the main test used to investigate suspected bowel cancer, with biopsy potentially performed during the procedure.
Depending on your symptoms and circumstances, your doctor may also recommend blood tests or stool-based tests.
Importantly, being referred for testing does not mean that you have cancer. Testing is how doctors determine what is actually causing the symptoms.
Screening Can Find Problems Before Symptoms Appear
Another important aspect of colorectal cancer is screening.
Screening is different from diagnostic testing.
