Don’t ignore changes to your poo
Dame Deborah James campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, and the importance of early diagnosis.
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. Spotting bowel cancer early saves lives, because treatment is more likely to work when cancer is diagnosed early.
It’s important to know what the symptoms of bowel cancer are, which include:
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Bleeding from your bottom or blood in your poo
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A change to your normal bowel habits such as constipation, looser poo or pooing more often
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Tummy pain or a lump in your tummy
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Unexplained weight loss, tiredness or breathlessness
If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, or anything else that is unusual for you, speak to your doctor and get it checked out. They want to hear from you.
Check your poo
We're here to remind you that it's so important to check your poo! Take a look before you flush, and don't ignore blood in your poo or any other changes that aren't normal for you.
If you notice a change to your bowel habits, like having harder poos (types 1 and 2) or looser poos (types 5 to 7) or you're pooing more often, it’s always best to tell your doctor about it.
If you’re not sure how to describe the changes to your poo, try using this chart to help explain the consistency of. Health professionals are familiar with this chart.
If you do notice any changes it won't be cancer in most cases but, if it is, spotting it early can make all the difference 💜
So, next time you're with your friends and family remind them to check their poo and help us to tackle the stigma around these all important conversations.
Find out more
You can find out more about the importance of early diagnosis and
further information on Bowel Cancer on Cancer Research UK's website.