A leading oncologist has revealed a symptom of bowel cancer that is “under-discussed” and can easily go unnoticed.
Feeling as though your bowels have not emptied fully after a bowel movement may be a major warning sign of a tumour, according to Dr Yousuf Zafar, a US-based gastrointestinal oncologist.
In a recent TikTok video, he explained, “A symptom that doesn’t get talked about enough is feeling like your bowels don’t completely empty after you have a bowel movement.”
This can occur when a tumour narrows or blocks the space through which stool passes.
The tumour is typically located in the rectum – the final section of the large intestine – or the lower part of the colon, which forms the longest section of the large intestine.
The large intestine processes food into stool, and any obstruction can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms.
According to Cancer Research UK, these symptoms can include pain, nausea and vomiting large amounts of undigested food or bowel fluid.
Dr Zafar’s warning comes amid a concerning rise in bowel cancer cases among young people.
Each year, an estimated 42,000 Britons are diagnosed with bowel cancer, also known as colon cancer, and 17,400 die from the disease.
One of those who tragically lost their life was Dame Deborah James, 40, who was affectionately known as the “Bowel Babe” for her tireless efforts to raise awareness.
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Worryingly, cases in her age group have doubled over the past two decades.
In his video, Dr Zafar outlined several other early warning signs of bowel cancer, noting that some may be painless.
The first sign, which many people already recognise, is “blood in your stool or rectal bleeding”.
“I cannot tell you how many patients I’ve had who had noticed blood in their stool over the course of months or even a year or more before seeing me,” he said.
He also advised people to look out for “abdominal pain or cramping” that “doesn’t resolve” on its own.
Another key symptom is “unexplained weight loss”, which he described as “a really important symptom”.
“If you’re losing weight but it’s not because you’re dieting or exercising, pay attention to that,” he warned.
The final sign Dr Zafar mentioned is “anaemia”, or low iron levels, which can cause fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath.
He said, “If you’re anaemic and there is no other good reason for it you should talk to your doctor about whether you should get checked for colon cancer.”
In a final message, he added, “So remember, there may be no symptoms at all. This is why age-appropriate screening is really important.
“But if you have any of these symptoms that I’ve talked about, please talk to your doctor.”
According to the NHS, other symptoms of bowel cancer include needing to pass stool more or less often than usual, or changes in the stool such as softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is unusual for you.
The warning follows a major scientific breakthrough that could pave the way for new life-saving treatments.
Researchers recently identified a “big bang” moment that determines how bowel cancer develops.
This pivotal moment occurs when cancer cells hide from the immune system through a process known as immune escape, allowing them to switch off genes that would otherwise alert the body’s defences.
After this immune escape, scientists found very few further changes in the cancer’s behaviour – making it harder to treat.
The discovery could help doctors identify which patients are most likely to respond to immunotherapy, a treatment that boosts the immune system’s ability to fight cancer, including the potential development of future vaccines.
Images: Instagram / Shutterstock / TikTok
