Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of bowel cancer may include:

• blood in your bowel motions (this may look like red blood or black bowel motions)
• a change in bowel habits
• diarrhoea, constipation or feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely
• bowel motions that are narrower than usual
• general abdominal discomfort (frequent gas pains, bloating or cramps) that can be confused with indigestion
• unexplained weight loss
• tiredness
• anaemia.

Although symptoms are often caused by other conditions, it is important to get them checked by your doctor without delay.

When you’re diagnosed with bowel cancer, you may be concerned about your family’s risk of bowel cancer. While your family may not be at increased risk, you may wish to discuss with them the importance of reporting symptoms to their doctor early.