Do you #KnowTheHigh5 symptoms of bowel cancer?

News - 24 March 2023

​​​​​​​Someone dies of bowel cancer every 30 minutes in the UK. It’s the second biggest cancer killer, but it shouldn’t be, because it’s treatable and curable. Nearly everyone diagnosed at the earliest stages will survive the disease. Knowing the symptoms is so important – it really could save your life.
infographic from Bowel Cancer UK on knowing the 5 key symptoms of bowel cancer that could svae your life

That’s why we're supporting Bowel Cancer UK this Bowel Cancer Awareness Month to ensure more people #KnowTheHigh5 symptoms of bowel cancer.

So, what should you look out for?

The red flag symptoms of bowel cancer are:  

  1. Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo
  2. A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit 
  3. Unexplained weight loss
  4. Extreme tiredness for no obvious reason 
  5. A pain or lump in your tummy

Most people with these symptoms won’t have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms. But if you experience one or more of these, or if things just don’t feel right, contact your GP straight away.

Be Bowel Smart

One in three people can’t name any symptoms of bowel cancer. Together we can change that. The Bowel Cancer Awareness Month hub has lots of ways to get involved, including:

  • take the symptoms quiz, and then share it with your friends and family – plus enter the prize draw for one of five chances to win one year’s supply of Andrex® toilet roll!
  • attend an online awareness talk given by a volunteer with real life experience of bowel cancer 
  • follow Bowel Cancer UK on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn then tag, share and encourage others to get involved  

For more information about bowel cancer and details of how to get involved during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, visit bowelcanceruk.org.uk/bowel-cancer-awareness-month

You might also be interested in

Your next poo could save your life. Screening saves lives. Help us help you. NHS logo. An image a toilet roll.

The NHS bowel cancer screening testing kit can save your life.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. Yet the latest data shows that almost one third of people who were sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit in England last year did not go on to complete it. Early diagnosis is vital as detecting bowel cancer at the earliest stage makes you up to 9 times more likely to be successfully treated. 
News
Prostate Cancer UK. A large male figure image, made up of smaller figures is shown.

1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime and every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer – that's more than 12,000 men every year.
Men with early prostate cancer will often have no symptoms because of the way the cancer grows, that's why it's important to know your risk.
News
Gynae cancer types written on five hearts, in a flower shape. Ovaries, womb, vulval, vaginal and cervical. Cervical is highlighted in red.

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2023 runs from the 23rd - 29th January.

Did you know cervical cancer can be prevented? The tools are available to make cervical cancer a thing of the past. HPV vaccination, cervical screening, and treatment for cell changes can all help prevent it but we need to increase awareness and uptake.
News