Bowel Cancer 

 

Bowel cancer generally occurs in the colon (large intestine), and depending on where it occurs it can also be called rectal or colon cancer. It can also start in the small intestine, but this is much less common. Bowel cancer develops from a polyp (small growths on the inner lining of the colon). It can take ten years for a polyp to become cancerous.

 

The symptoms of cancer include; blood in the faeces, a change in bowel habits including diarrhoea and constipation, and unexplained weight loss.

 

The risk of developing bowel cancer increases with age, with more than 80% being over the age of 60.