Bowel cancer is probably the last thing on your mind — but this month, we should all take a minute to reflect on our bowel health. According to research, 13% of UK adults know someone that has received a late diagnosis due to NHS delays, with more than half of us wanting to take more control of our health. But that feels difficult with an overwhelmed healthcare system.
30% of us are having to wait six or more weeks for diagnostics tests via the NHS, with almost 200,000 having to wait more than 13 weeks for one of the NHS’ key diagnostics tests.
This month, April, is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, and there's never been a better time to better educate yourself about the disease. Better than that, you can self-test for it at home. Studies have found that 78% of us are more comfortable with home testing after using lateral flow tests. You can buy at home diagnostic tests for bowel cancer – and a range of other health conditions – from Tesco stores all over the UK.
I was sure my symptoms could have been attributable to piles and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
And it's certainly worth the investment. As of 2025, roughly 44,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year. Currently, it generally affects older people, with more than nine out of ten new cases (94%) occurring in people over the age of 50. However, rates are steadily increasing in younger people. The disease is the third most common cancer found in UK women. Early diagnosis can also help save lives and knowing what to look out for can be the key to getting the help you need. Deborah's final plea was for us all to “check our poo", a hashtag she often used on social media, as well as a topic she spoke about widely in interviews.
She died from bowel cancer on 28 June 2022, five years after she was first diagnosed. Before her passing, the campaigner set up the legacy foundation, BowelBabe Fund, which, at the time of writing, has now raised more than £6.9million for charities such as Cancer Research UK, Bowel Cancer UK, and Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
So, on top of testing, how do we check our poo and what symptoms should we not ignore? GLAMOUR spoke to GP and women's health specialist Dr Amina Albeyatti to find out what bowel cancer is and what to do if you find something abnormal. Share this far and wide, you could help to save a life.
A boost in mood can make us question whether we still need help, but therapy is for the good times too, not just the bad.
What is bowel cancer?
Bowel cancer, or specifically colorectal cancer, is a malignant growth within the large bowels.
It is more common in people over 50, but "please do not ignore symptoms due to age as many younger patients present late to their doctor as they assume they are too young to have cancer," Amina warns.
She adds: "It is more common in patients with a family history or known polyps as well as those with inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes and a poor lifestyle."
Instagram content
How do you check your poo for bowel cancer?
Amina says: "Checking your poo, the consistency of your poo and your personal bowel habits are important. Everyone has their own specific normal bowel habits. When there are changes to your bowel, and these changes remain altered, it's important to examine.
"The first step, therefore, you need check regarding your bowels, is if there is a change in your bowel movements that lasts longer than 3-4 weeks. We all get brief changes when we're on holiday or dieting or eating something that didn't agree with us, but a prolonged change needs investigating."
Amina adds that it's important to take note of any changes and symptoms. "Some common changes include loser bowel motions, sluggish movements and feeling more constipated, thinner movements (as if they've been squeezed out), intermittent loose and hard stool," she adds.
"It is also important to check for blood, especially if it's within the stool and not just coating or on wiping. Blood on wiping is usually a symptom of haemorrhoids or anal tissue, but I would still run it past my GP."
Don't fear the smear. Educate yourself this Cervical Screening Awareness Week.
Look out for Black stool, Amina advises. "Frequently, this can be related to digested blood from the stomach or small intestine. However, if this colour only appears on occasion, this may be a side effect from iron treatments, supplements or dark-coloured foods and drinks." She also lists the following symptoms:
Pale stool - frequently, this can be related to liver problems and reduced bile production.
Pellets - most commonly caused by constipation. Causes of constipation may be due to diet or problems with intestinal function.
Long-standing loose stools - can be related to IBS, overactive thyroid, coeliac disease or specific food irritations.
Bloody stools - signs of bowel cancer or haemorrhoids and fissures
Oily stool/difficult to flush - signs of malabsorption
Mucus with stool - sign of inflamed bowel.
Other symptoms, unrelated to poo but important to note for personal bowel health, include weight loss that is unexplained by diet changes, change (usually loss) of appetite, abdominal pain and bloating/distension.
What to do if something is abnormal?
Amina advises that if you notice any changes is to call is your GP as they will take a full history of your symptoms and compare these to previously investigated symptoms, followed by an examination of the abdomen to feel for any tenderness or lumps and usually an examination of the back passage is also required to identify any blood.
"They will usually offer you a blood test with a marker of potential bowel disease and then refer you to a specialist centre under the NHS cancer pathway, which ensures all patients are assessed with primary investigations within two weeks," she explains.
Amina adds: "Usually, this includes a colonoscopy (full vowel) or sigmoidoscopy (last third of bowel) camera test to look for cancer growing within the bowels. Biopsies (small tissue samples) are all taken, and if polyps are found, they are also removed for review under the microscope by a specialist histopathologist.
Get involved this Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
There are plenty of ways you can support the cause.
ActiveApril is a great way to raise money while improving your own fitness. All you'll need to do is one active thing every day in April.
If you have a story to share, the #PassItOn campaign is a great place to share your story and encourage others to learn more about bowel cancer.
You can also apply to be a Bowel Cancer Awareness Month champion, spreading awareness in your community both online and in person.
Finally, you can support the cause by purchasing official merchandise (we can always use one more tote bag, right?).
Always consult your GP if you notice any changes in your faeces or feel you are experiencing any of the above symptoms. If you are keen to learn more about bowel cancer, visit the NHS website and bowelcanceruk.org.uk as good starting points for clear information.
Research has revealed AI is mainly trained to assess white skin.
