Researchers found that patients with early bowel cancer were likely to experience four symptoms between three months and two years before diagnosis.
A new study has identified four “red flag” symptoms of bowel cancer in patients under 50, months before diagnosis. Colorectal cancer, or cancer of the colon and rectum, is the third most common in France. It affects more than 43,000 people each year and causes 17,000 deaths.
Bowel cancer accounts for about 11% of all new cancer cases. Some of the cases are considered preventable. Although there are many symptoms to watch out for, new research has found key warning signs that could indicate an increased risk of early bowel cancer – that is, occurring before the age of 50 years. The researchers said patients were likely to experience four symptoms between three months and two years before diagnosis.
It has been determined that the presence of just one of the symptoms almost doubles the risk of bowel cancer. Those with two symptoms were more than 3.5 times more at risk; and having three or more symptoms increased the risk more than 6.5 times, reports the Express newspaper.
These “alert” symptoms are:
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis think these warning signs could help with earlier detection and diagnosis in young adults. The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, analyzed data from more than 5,000 patients with early bowel cancer.
Yin Cao, study leader, explains: “Colorectal cancer is not just a disease that affects older people; we want young adults to be aware of these potentially very telling signs and symptoms and act accordingly – especially because people under the age of 50 are considered to be at low risk and do not benefit from routine screening for colorectal cancer. It is also essential to raise awareness among general practitioners, gastroenterologists and emergency doctors. To date , many early colorectal cancers are detected in emergency rooms, and there are often significant diagnostic delays with this cancer.”
Bowel cancer screening in France is currently offered to people aged 50 to 74 every two years. Dr Cao added that two symptoms in particular – rectal bleeding and iron deficiency anemia – required prompt endoscopy and follow-up.
Cassandra Fritz, study author, said: “It usually takes about three months to get a diagnosis from the time a person first sees a doctor with one or more of the warning signs and symptoms that we identified. But in this analysis, we found that some young adults had symptoms up to two years before their diagnosis. This could be one reason why many younger patients had more advanced disease at the time of diagnosis than what we usually see in older people who get tested regularly.”
Some of the symptoms listed are very common and can be caused by other conditions, so they don’t necessarily mean you have bowel cancer – but if they persist you should still see a GP.
