Experts have stressed that one of the symptoms of bowel cancer can include a change to your normal bowel habit or blood in your stool. Whether you've consumed something that didn't agree with you or are suffering from a stomach bug, there are numerous reasons why your stool might change - including the possibility of bowel cancer . Health experts have emphasised that one symptom of bowel cancer can be a change in your usual bowel habits or blood in your stool, reports the Mirror .
The disease can initially manifest in the large bowel (known as colon cancer) or the rectum (rectal cancer). While it may seem challenging to distinguish between common bowel issues and something more serious, medical professionals have highlighted that a key indicator can be related to the colour of your stool. The Cancer Research UK website advises that if you observe blood in your stool that resembles the colour of tar, it's crucial to seek medical attention immediately.
It explains: "Blood from higher up in the bowel doesn't look bright red. It goes dark red or black and can make your poo look like tar. This type of bleeding can be a sign of cancer higher up the bowel.
Or it could be from a bleeding stomach ulcer for example." In addition, Dr Porter, who writes a column for The Times , clarified that bleeding is a common "red flag". He stated: "Common red flags include bleeding from your bottom (often not cancer but never normal) and/or an unexplained and prolonged change in bowel habit (more th.
