An A&E doctor has urged individuals to seek medical advice if they notice any of three specific symptoms during a visit to the loo. These signs could be indicative of bowel cancer, one of the UK’s deadliest cancers.
Cancer Research UK statistics reveal that bowel cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent cancer in the country, with 44,100 new cases each year, and it is also the second leading cause of cancer deaths, claiming 16,800 lives annually. Therefore, recognising the potential warning signs of this disease is crucial.
In light of this, GP and A&E specialist Dr Suraj Kukadia, widely known on TikTok as Dr Sooj, took to the social media platform to shed light on the matter. He outlined three bowel cancer symptoms that might be observed when using the toilet:
- Pain during bowel movements
- Blood present in the toilet water
- Blood mixed within the stool.
Dr Sooj, addressing his audience of over five million followers, explained: “When I poop it really hurts and in the toilet water is blood and there’s blood in the poo. What do I do? There are lots of reasons that someone can have blood in their poop. It could be piles or haemorrhoids.
“It could be a small tear, so a fissure down below. It could be inflammatory bowel disease.”
However, he emphasised that these symptoms do not necessarily confirm bowel cancer, as they can arise from various conditions. He said: “It could even be something more sinister, like a rectal cancer or a colorectal cancer, or bowel cancer.”
If you experience any of these symptoms you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. Dr Sooj continued: “Now you need to go and see a doctor because we can take a history, we can examine you, we can rule in or rule out some of the potential causes and then we can treat you.”
In some cases it could be easily treatable. He said: “If it is caused by haemorrhoids or piles or a small tear, then the most common cause for those is usually dehydration and constipation. So we want to increase fibre, increase water, reduce straining, reduce caffeine and alcohol, and things that can dehydrate you.
“If it’s caused by inflammatory bowel disease, which is more or less likely depending on your age and other risk factors, there are things we can do. There are treatments, there are investigations.”
He added: “You basically need to see a doctor and if it’s something like cancer, come on, you need to be seen. Go and see a doctor.”
The NHS lists symptoms of bowel cancer as:
- 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 for no reason.
Bowel cancer can also cause anaemia (when you have fewer red blood cells than usual), which can make you feel very tired, short of breath and have headaches. The health body advises seeing your GP if you have any symptoms of bowel cancer for three weeks or more.