Four 'key' red flag symptoms of bowel cancer that appear two years ahead of diagnosis
Experts are sounding the alarm over four critical symptoms of a potentially fatal illness, as instances have been on the rise among the younger demographic. Specialists are advising individuals to consult their GP promptly if they notice any of these indicators, regardless of their age or apparent good health.
US researchers highlighted the most significant signs of bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, that people should be vigilant about, with some manifesting up to two years prior to a diagnosis. Experiencing just one of these symptoms can double the risk of developing bowel cancer, while having three or more could increase the odds by 6.5 times, according to the findings.
As The Mirror reports, a team from Washington University School of Medicine analysed data from over 5,000 patients with early-onset bowel cancer. They discovered that typically, four key symptoms emerge anywhere from three months to two years before a diagnosis is made.
READ MORE: Doctor shares 'very common' symptom of bowel cancer people ignore as This Morning star dies
READ MORE: Dr Alexis Missick says signs of hidden cancer include one in the bathroom
These symptoms include:
Abdominal pain
Rectal bleeding
Diarrhoea
Iron deficiency anaemia
Medical professionals noted that each symptom was linked to a heightened risk in individuals under the age of 50. This comes as specialists caution young adults that bowel cancer "is not simply a disease affecting older people".
Researcher and associate professor Yin Cao has issued a warning, stating: "Colorectal cancer is not simply a disease affecting older people; we want younger adults to be aware of and act on these potentially very telling signs and symptoms - particularly because people under 50 are considered to be at low risk, and they don’t receive routine colorectal cancer screening."
She further emphasised the importance of awareness among healthcare professionals, saying: "It’s also crucial to spread awareness among primary care doctors, gastroenterologists and emergency medicine doctors. To date, many early-onset colorectal cancers are detected in emergency rooms, and there often are significant diagnostic delays with this cancer."
Dr Cao emphasised two specific symptoms - rectal bleeding and iron deficiency anaemia, a blood condition causing tiredness and pale skin - as red flags that should prompt patients to immediately consult their doctor and request an endoscopy.
It comes as separate research has found that individuals born in 1990 have twice the risk of colon cancer and quadruple the risk of rectal cancer compared to those born in 1950.
"Since the majority of early-onset colorectal cancer cases have been and will continue to be diagnosed after symptom presentation, it is crucial to recognise these red-flag signs and symptoms promptly and conduct a diagnostic work-up as soon as possible," Dr Cao added.
She concluded by stressing the benefits of early diagnosis, saying: "By doing so, we can diagnose the disease earlier, which in turn can reduce the need for more aggressive treatment and improve patients’ quality of life and survival rates."
The NHS lists symptoms of bowel cancer as:
Alterations in your bowel movements, such as experiencing softer stools, diarrhoea or constipation that is not normal for you
Feeling the need to defecate more or less frequently than usual
Discovering blood in your stool, which could appear red or black
Experiencing rectal bleeding
Frequently feeling the urge to defecate, even if you've just been to the toilet
Abdominal discomfort
Detecting a lump in your abdomen
Bloating
Unintentional weight loss
Feeling excessively fatigued without any apparent reason
Anaemia, which can cause extreme fatigue, shortness of breath and headaches
According to data from Cancer Research UK, bowel cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent cancer in the UK, making up 11 percent of all new cancer diagnoses. However, it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with approximately 16,800 fatalities each year.
