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Knowing signs of bowel cancer saves lives – as patients benefit most from early diagnosis

KNOWING the signs of bowel cancer saves lives - as new figures show those patients benefit the most from early diagnosis.

Bowel cancer patients are 59.1 per cent as likely as the general population to survive for five years.

 Many Brits don't know the warning signs when it comes to bowel cancer - the UK's second deadliest form of the disease
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Many Brits don't know the warning signs when it comes to bowel cancer - the UK's second deadliest form of the diseaseCredit: Getty - Contributor

If the disease is caught early at stage one, the figure is 93 per cent but just 11 per cent if diagnosed late - at stage four.

The figures from the Office for National Statistics are likely to prompt calls from charities for better awareness and prompter tests.

Survival rates tend to be higher for cancers that are mostly diagnosed at an early stage, such as breast and prostate.

And they are typically lower for those that are diagnosed later, such as lung cancer.

Prostate and breast cancers present specific, easy to identify symptoms, which prompt patients to visit their GP.

And they are parts of the body that are not considered vital organs, so tumours can be removed relatively safely.

But stomach pains and discomfort are a common symptom of bowel cancer and a large number of other conditions.In the absence of obvious symptoms other conditions are ruled out first, during which time the cancer may have progressed to further stages.

'Early diagnosis is crucial'

Deborah Alsina MBE, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: “This data highlights the significant opportunity we have to save more lives through diagnosing bowel cancer when it is at an earlier, and more easily treatable, stage.

"We know early diagnosis is crucial to improving survival rates for bowel cancer. In fact nearly everyone will survive if diagnosed at the earliest stage.

"It is vital that the public are aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and they visit their GP without delay if they have concerns and that health care professionals rule out bowel cancer quickly.

"Having an optimal bowel screening programme, which includes improving the sensitivity of the new bowel cancer screening test and lowering of the screening age to 50 is our best opportunity to prevent or to detect more early stage cancers.

"Lives can absolutely be saved from bowel cancer but the capacity crisis within our endoscopy and pathology workforce must be urgently addressed through the upcoming full NHS People Plan so that those who need further investigations can access them without delay."

Postcode lottery

At the moment, Brits are subject to a postcode lottery, with those living in Scotland screened from 50.

Meanwhile, south of the border in England, and in Wales and Northern Ireland, those tests aren't offered until 60 - resulting in thousands of needless deaths.

That's why The Sun's No Time 2 Lose campaign called for a simple poo test offered to everyone, every two years, from their 50th birthday.

Last summer after pressure from The Sun and campaigners, the Government agreed to lower the screening age, but a date for roll out has yet to be confirmed.

Screening is one aspect of catching this disease early.

It is vital every Brit knows what the red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer actually are - and act on them if they are worried.

But a survey by Bowel Cancer UK highlighted that few Brits are actually aware of the signs they should be watching out for.

Five red-flag symptoms:

1. Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo

2. A change in your normal toilet habits - going more frequently for example

3. Pain or a lump in your tummy

4. Extreme tiredness

5. Losing weight

Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia.
It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.

In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction.

Other signs of bowel cancer include:

  • Gripping pains in the abdomen
  • Feeling bloated
  • Constipation and being unable to pass wind
  • Being sick
  • Feeling like you need to strain - like doing a number two - but after you've been to the loo

While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools.

But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease.

Bowel cancer by numbers...

- bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer

- it's the fourth most common form of cancer

42,000 - people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year

1,300 - people will lose their lives this month to the disease

15,903 - lives will be lost this year to bowel cancer

44 - people die every day

30 - that's one bowel cancer patient every 30 minutes

15 - every 15 minutes someone is told they have bowel cancer

97 - 97 per cent of people diagnosed in the earliest stages will survive for five years or more

7 - only seven per cent survive when diangnosed at the latest stage

60 - 83 per cent of people who get bowel cancer are over the age of 60

50 - it's more common over the age of 50 but ANYONE can get bowel cancer, you're never too young

2,500 - the number of under 50s diagnosed each year

268,000 - people living with bowel cancer in the UK

What are the risk factors of bowel cancer?

Scientists do not know the cause of most forms of bowel cancer, but they do know a series of factors that can increase a person's risk of the disease.

Some of these things are just a fact of life - age and genetics for example.

But, others are lifestyle factors that can be changed and improved.

You're at greater risk of bowel cancer if you have one or more of the following risk factors:

  • you're aged over 50
  • you have a strong family history of the disease - eg. a parent, sibling or child diagnosed with bowel cancer before the age of 50, or two or more relatives diagnosed at any age or one or more relative with a known genetic condition linked to bowel cancer
  • a history of non-cancerous growths, known as polyps, in your bowel
  • long-term inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
  • type 2 diabetes
  • an unhealthy lifestyle - you smoke, are overweight or obese and do not get enough exercise

Can bowel cancer be treated?

Bowel cancer is treatable and can be cured, particularly if it is diagnosed early enough.

More than nine out of 10 people with stage 1 bowel cancer - the least serious form - survive five years or longer after they are diagnosed.

However, this survival rate does drop significantly the longer a person has the disease before diagnosis.

 These are the red-flag warning signs that mean you could have bowel cancer
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These are the red-flag warning signs that mean you could have bowel cancerCredit: Bowel Cancer UK
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