Bowel cancer is also known as Colorectal cancer, cancer of the Colon or cancer of the Rectum. This may seem confusing but this is because the rectum and colon make up the large bowel. This is a relatively common form of cancer and is the third most common in the UK.

Screening for bowel cancer is recommended, you can discuss screening options available at Harley Street at Queen's with your consultant or doctor, you can also discuss concerns about recent screening results.

Things to look out for

Symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Blood when passing stool, sometimes this may be bright red in colour and at other times dark red.
• Abdominal (tummy) pain.
• Weight loss.
• Fatigue (tiredness) caused by anaemia, which can also lead to breathlessness.
• Abnormal bowel habits (constipation or diarrhoea) or the feeling of not sufficiently having emptied your bowel after passing stool.

Some colorectal cancers can cause a blockage in the bowel, this can cause the following symptoms:

• Abdominal (tummy) pain and or bloating.
• Constipation.
• Being sick (vomiting).