Therefore, being aware of any of the warning signs of bowel cancer is vital.
According to the NHS, one of the main signs of bowel cancer will appear in your toilet.
If your poo appears black or red in colour this could be caused by blood and should prompt you to seek an urgent GP appointment.
However, Cancer Research UK stipulates that finding blood in your poo doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer.
It could be caused by a number of other things.
The charity says: “Most often, blood in the stool is from piles (haemorrhoids), especially if it is bright red, fresh blood.
“Piles are like swollen veins in the back passage. These veins are fragile and can easily get damaged when you have a poo, causing a little bleed. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
“Blood from higher up in the bowel doesn’t look bright red. It goes dark red or black and can make your poo look like tar.
“This type of bleeding can be a sign of cancer higher up the bowel. Or it could be from a bleeding stomach ulcer for example.”
But it says: “It is important to go to your doctor if you have any bleeding and get checked.”
The NHS recommends calling 111 or booking an “urgent” GP appointment if your poo is black or dark red, or you have bloody diarrhoea.
Other potential symptoms of bowel cancer include:
The health body adds: “Bowel cancer can cause anaemia (when you have fewer red blood cells than usual), which can make you feel very tired, short of breath and have headaches.”
