Bowel cancer has caused over 6,000 deaths each year. There are effective treatments for bowel cancer though and many people survive the disease, especially if it is diagnosed at an early stage. Successful treatment of bowel cancer is largely due to how early its been diagnosed. When a person is diagnosed, which part of the bowel is affected, and whether or not their cancer has spread, will help determine the best type of treatment.
A feeling that you haven’t completely emptied your bowels is quite common if the tumour is in the rectum
The NHS Foundation Trust
Feeling like your bowels haven’t completely emptied even after going to the loo could be a warning sign.
The NHS Foundation Trust said: “The commonest symptom of colorectal cancer is a change of bowel habits.
“There may be increasing constipation, or perhaps alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhoea.
“There may be blood or mucus in the stools. A feeling that you haven’t completely emptied your bowels is quite common if the tumour is in the rectum.
“This can be uncomfortable and you may constantly feel the urge to go to the toilet.”
Symptoms of bowel cancer differ from person to person and if you suspect you may have the warning signs its imperative to speak with your GP about the best treatment options.
Early stage bowel cancer within the colon or rectum can sometimes be removed with surgery.
The type of surgery will differ according to where the cancer is. Bowel cancer can often be treated and sometimes, it can be cured.
The success of bowel cancer treatments will differ for each person. Sometimes, treatment may be successful and the cancer may never come back, whereas some people may find it is initially effective but then the cancer returns.
Bowel cancer can affect people of all ages but it is more common in those over 50 years old, and it is slightly more common in men rather than women.
The bowel is part of the digestive system stretching from the stomach to the anus. It is a hollow tube coiled up in the abdomen, divided into two parts: the small bowel and the large bowel.
Cancer in the large bowel is known as colorectal cancer. It’s unclear what causes bowel cancer, and it’s not fully understood exactly why some people develop it and others don’t.
Some reasons why it occurs could be a family history of bowel cancer, a diet high in red and processed meat, smoking, high alcohol consumption or being obese.
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