Screening for bowel cancer Your screening test is called a faecal occult blood test (FOBT). It looks for traces of blood in the poo which are invisible to the human eye and could be a sign of bowel cancer.
Signs and symptoms of bowel cancer
The 3 main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in the stools (faeces), a change in bowel habit, such as more frequent, looser stools, and abdominal (tummy) pain. However, these symptoms are very common.
The symptoms of bowel (colorectal) cancer can include: bleeding from the back passage (rectum) or blood in your poo. a change in your normal bowel habit, such as looser poo, pooing more often or constipation. a lump that your doctor can feel in your back passage or tummy (abdomen), more commonly on the right side.
The most common tumor marker for colorectal cancer is carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Blood tests for this tumor marker can sometimes suggest someone might have colorectal cancer, but they can't be used alone to screen for or diagnose cancer.
Colon cancer is typically slow-growing, starting as a benign polyp that eventually becomes malignant. This process may occur over many years without producing any symptoms. Once colon cancer has developed, it may still be years before it is detected.
The risk of colorectal cancer increases as people get older. Colorectal cancer can occur in young adults and teenagers, but the majority of colorectal cancers occur in people older than 50. For colon cancer, the average age at the time of diagnosis for men is 68 and for women is 72.
Main symptoms of bowel cancer
blood in your poo, which may look red or black. bleeding from your bottom. often feeling like you need to poo, even if you've just been to the toilet. tummy pain.
Stool tests.
Currently, three types of stool tests are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to screen for colorectal cancer: guaiac FOBT (gFOBT); the fecal immunochemical (or immunohistochemical) test (FIT, also known as iFOBT); and multitargeted stool DNA testing (also known as FIT-DNA).
Many cases of colon cancer have no symptoms. If there are symptoms, the following may indicate colon cancer: Abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen.
Cancer of the colon is a highly treatable and often curable disease when localized to the bowel. Surgery is the primary form of treatment and results in cure in approximately 50% of patients. However, recurrence following surgery is a major problem and is often the ultimate cause of death.
The bowel cancer screening test. The bowel cancer screening test is called the faecal immunochemical test (FIT). The FIT looks for tiny traces of blood in the sample of poo which can be a sign of bowel cancer.
More than nine out of ten new cases (94%) are diagnosed in people over the age of 50. But bowel cancer can affect anyone of any age. More than 2,600 new cases are diagnosed in people under the age of 50 every year. 1 in 15 men and 1 in 18 women will be diagnosed with bowel cancer during their lifetime.
In most cases, colon and rectal cancers grow slowly over many years.
Bowel cancer screening kit
The screening kit is a simple test to detect tiny amounts of blood in the bowel motions, which can be an early warning sign for bowel cancer before any other signs or symptoms. If any blood is found, it does not mean that the person has bowel cancer, but that they need further investigation.
The main test for bowel cancer is a colonoscopy. This is where a thin, flexible, tube with a camera is used to look inside your bowel. It may be uncomfortable but it should not be painful. You'll be offered a sedative and painkillers to help make you feel more comfortable.
At-home stool tests can be an effective tool for detecting colon cancer. But they're not as accurate as a colonoscopy and they don't offer a way of finding and removing polyps that could turn cancerous.
Colon cancer can cause changes in the color, consistency, and frequency of your poop. These changes can include blood in the stool, narrow stools, more frequent bowel movements, and diarrhea. In advanced stages, poop may become black and tarry.
Tell your doctor or specialist nurse if you're worried about a symptom or if it continues for more than a few days. General symptoms of advanced bowel cancer can include: feeling tired. low energy levels.
What are some less common symptoms of bowel cancer? Some people with bowel cancer may notice that they feel extremely tired for no obvious reason, or are losing weight without trying, though this is less common.
Though not as common, a person may experience excessive smelly gas due to the presence of cancer of the colon. Cancerous polyps or tumors can form blockages that cause gas to build up in the intestine. One early warning sign is when changes in diet or medication do not stop foul-smelling gas from occurring.