Symptoms of bowel cancer in a woman

Bowel cancer may cause a new change in constipation or diarrhoea, narrower stools, urgency, or a feeling that the bowel has not emptied. Blood in or on the stool, darker stool, cramps, bloating, reduced appetite, and ongoing fatigue can also occur. Iron deficiency may contribute to tiredness when there is slow blood loss. These symptoms can also result from haemorrhoids, infection, medication effects, inflammatory bowel conditions, or other problems, so a symptom is not a diagnosis.

Arrange a medical assessment if a bowel change persists, recurs, or differs clearly from your usual pattern. Note stool appearance, bleeding, pain, appetite, weight change, medicines, and family history. A clinician may examine you, request blood or stool tests, and discuss Colonoscopy, which allows the bowel lining to be inspected and sampled when needed. Testing should be chosen around your symptoms and personal history.

Seek urgent help for heavy rectal bleeding, black or tar-like stools with weakness, severe or worsening abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, marked swelling, fainting, or inability to pass stool and gas. Arrange prompt review for persistent bleeding, unexplained weight loss, ongoing fatigue, or a bowel habit change. If cancer is diagnosed, treatment choices may include Bowel Resection, Radiotherapy, or other care based on tumour location and test results.

Ask which tests are appropriate, whether medicines or anaemia could explain your symptoms, and when results will be available. If a tumour is found, ask whether it has spread to the liver, whether Liver Resection could be relevant, and whether genomic testing may guide treatment.