Cancer Research UK reveals 3 little-known signs of bowel cancer you must never ignore

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, but it has a range of potential symptoms and some of them could be unexpected or strange. So what are they?

Brits are being reminded to look out for some lesser-known signs of bowel cancer.

According to data from 2017 to 2019, Cancer Research UK said there are around 44,100 new cases of bowel cancer in the UK every year. Around 11 percent of new cancer cases are bowel cancer, making it the fourth most common cancer in the UK.

There are a range of symptoms people with bowel cancer may experience, but some could be far less common and difficult to spot. Common symptoms include rectal bleeding and blood in your poo, but there are plenty of others. So what are they?

Feeling tired

There could be a range of reason you are feeling tired. Our levels of fatigue can very due to the amount of sleep you get, the stresses and strains of daily life and the amount of exercise you are doing. Recent illnesses could also take longer to recover from than you might expect.

If you are concerned about how tired you are, or just feel run down in general, then speak to your doctor. Cancer patients can sometimes suffer from anaemia.

Anaemia, the NHS said, is the “general term for having either fewer red blood cells than normal or having an abnormally low amount of haemoglobin in each red blood cell."

Pencil poos

People should be reminded to be on the lookout for changes in their poo, but one particularly odd symptom of bowel cancer could be what is often referred to as ‘pencil poos’. Dr Michael Cecchini, of Yale University, of the Huffington Post, said: “Stools are much thinner, or they’re pencil in thickness and size, which is a description that some patients with colorectal cancer will have. When it exists, it is highly concerning. It’s just not one of the more common symptoms of the disease."

Weight loss

If you are losing weight but can’t seem to explain it then you should speak to your doctor. Around 40 percent of patients said they had experienced unexplained weight loss when they were first diagnoses according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Dr Richard Roope, of CRUK, said according to The Sun: “A symptom where we would encourage you to see your GP is if you notice that you’re excessively tired.

“So any tiredness, for instance where you might find you’re falling behind your friends when you’re out for a walk. If this can’t be explained for any good reason then it may be a sign of early bowel cancer."