28 December 2023 , 11:00
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A little-known symptom of bowel cancer may make itself known over the festive period, and it's important you don't ignore it - even if it seems harmless.
The week between Christmas and New Year often consists of stuffing your face with so much food you find it impossible to move from the sofa. From party food to leftover turkey, there's almost always something to snack on while you play board games with your family or watch Christmas specials on TV. But if you don't feel like eating much, or your appetite has changed in some way, then it could be a sign of bowel cancer.
According to Cancer Research UK, one of the possible symptoms of bowel cancer is losing weight without necessarily trying to, which could happen if you find yourself eating less often - especially over the festive period when most of us will be eating more than usual and maybe even putting on a bit of weight.
The cancer charity also notes that "having less appetite" could be a general symptom of advanced bowel cancer, which occurs when the cancer has begun to spread to other parts of the body.
Bowel cancer can also give you other symptoms that can impact your appetite, especially if the cancer has caused a bowel obstruction. A blockage in the bowel can give you cramping pains in the abdomen, a bloated feeling, constipation, and can even make you sick - all of which are likely to put you off eating.
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The NHS also lists losing weight as a common bowel cancer symptom, alongside the more well-known symptoms such as having blood in your stool, bleeding from your bottom, and needing to poo more or less often than usual. According to the NHS website, you should seek a GP appointment to discuss your symptoms if you've been noticing them for three weeks or more. They added: "Try not to be embarrassed. The doctor or nurse will be used to talking about these symptoms."
However, the health professionals also state that if you notice that your poo is dark red or black, or if you have bloody diarrhoea, then you should call 111 for an emergency GP appointment. And if you're bleeding non-stop from your bottom, or if you notice a lot of blood that turns the toilet water red or you see large blood clots, then you need to call 999 or go to A&E immediately.
The website notes: "Some of these symptoms are very common and can be caused by other conditions. Having the symptoms does not definitely mean you have bowel cancer, but it's important to get checked by a GP. If your symptoms are caused by cancer, finding it early may mean it's easier to treat."