Bowel cancer symptoms: Spotting this colour in your stools could be a sign of the disease

Bowel cancer affects both men and women and is the third most common cancer. When bowel cancer is caught at the earliest stage, more than nine in 10 people will survive for more than five years. The causes of most cases of bowel cancer are still unknown but research is continually ongoing to establish why some people develop the disease. A person’s stools could hold tell-tale signs of the condition – noticing your stools are a certain colour is something to watch out for.

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Black tarry or bloody stools should always be reported to a GP. The presence of either bright red blood, very dark or black stools, or dried blood are symptoms associated with bowel cancer.

NHS Scotland said: “It’s important to look out for signs in your bowel movements which include repeated bleeding from your bottom or blood in your poo, a recent change in your poo that continues for more than four weeks without going back to normal, watery poo on its own or with constipation, severe pain in the stomach that won’t go away, recently losing weight without trying or you feel tired all the time and people keep telling you that you ‘look a bit pale.’”

Normal stool colour is considered to be light to dark brown and although changes in stool colour or texture may be normal, most changes should be evaluated.

The symptoms associated with stool colour changes, if any, are the symptoms of the underlying cause of the change or illness.

When stool colour changes, tests need to be done to determine the cause.

Treatment for stool colour change depends on the underlying cause.

What the experts say

James Mander, consultant colorectal surgeon at Western General Hospital, said: “Bowel cancer, if caught early, is a curable disease and the best way of detecting it early is to use the bowel screening test sent out to all 50 – 74 year olds.

“Patients diagnosed through the bowel screening programme tend to have less advanced forms of cancer – fewer have spread beyond the bowel and tumours are usually significantly smaller, and more likely to be simpler to treat.

“The bowel screening test can redone in the privacy of your own home and the results are sent back to you directly.

“It’s simple and could save your life. It’s essential for people to stay alert to any potential signs of bowel cancer.”

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Bowel cancer home screening test

NHS Scotland added: “As well as looking out for signs and symptoms above, it’s important to keep an eye out for your home bowel screening test coming through your letterbox.

“Everyone between the ages of 50 and 74 will receive a bowel screening kit through the post every two years.

“Bowel screening could save your life.”

Bowel health is extremely important and may help to reduce a person’s risk of developing the deadly condition.

The food one eats could help prevent bowel cancer. Eating more foods such as fibres including cereals, beans, fruit and vegetables, less fat including fatty meats and dairy foods, more poultry such as chicken and turkey, less cured and processed meat such as bacon and sausages, more oily fish such as mackerel and salmon and less sugary and fatty processed foods.

The Marie Keating Foundation added: “If a member of your family has been diagnosed with bowel cancer you should consult your doctor who may suggest a simple test to detect blood in your bowel motions.

“Remember, early detection of the disease is your best chance of a cure.”

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