What Is Bowel Cancer?

Bowel cancer is cancer that’s found anywhere in the large bowel, which includes the colon and rectum.

The large bowel is part of your digestive system. It helps absorb water from your food and removes food waste from your body.

How serious bowel cancer is depends on how big the cancer is, if the cancer has spread, and your general health.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in the UK.

Bowel cancer screening can pick up bowel cancer early, which may mean it’s easier to treat.

Main Symptoms of Bowel Cancer

Symptoms of bowel cancer may include:

• Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
• Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
• Blood in your poo, which may look red or black
• Bleeding from your bottom
• Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
• Tummy pain
• A lump in your tummy
• Bloating
• Losing weight without trying
• Feeling very tired or short of breath – these are signs of anaemia, which can be caused by bowel cancer

See a GP If:

You have any symptoms of bowel cancer for 3 weeks or more

Try not to be embarrassed. The doctor or nurse will be used to talking about these symptoms.

Bowel Screening

• Bowel screening kits are automatically posted to people aged 50–74.
• One third of people sent a screening kit do not use it.
• Bowel screening is offered every 2 years.

Learn more about bowel cancer

Published: Mar 31, 2026