Several patients have shared the specific warning signs that prompted them to seek medical attention, offering insight into how colorectal cancer can first make itself known.

Survivors of colon cancer have spoken openly about the moments they realized something was wrong and decided to see a doctor.

Bowel cancer—which includes cancers of the colon and rectum—is currently the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK, according to Cancer Research. While the majority of cases still occur in older adults, global data shows a troubling rise among younger people. In the UK, only about one in 20 cases affects individuals under the age of 50.

This upward trend has been described as a “growing global phenomenon,” which is concerning. However, it’s important to note that more than half of all cases—around 54 percent—are considered preventable. This makes early awareness of symptoms especially critical.

Many signs of colorectal cancer can resemble symptoms of other conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or even a short-term stomach infection.

Still, gastroenterologist David Richards, M.D., emphasizes that medical attention is necessary if symptoms persist for longer than two weeks.

“That’s particularly true if they’re accompanied by abdominal pain, bloody stools or unintentional weight loss,” he told the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Diarrhoea

Courtney Nash was only 35 years old when she was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer.

For more than two decades, she had lived with ongoing digestive issues, including frequent diarrhoea and stomach pain, due to ulcerative colitis.

After giving birth to her second child, however, Courtney noticed that her symptoms worsened significantly.

“I started dropping weight, losing my hair and even passing blood occasionally,” she shared.

Constipation

Catherine Wright was also diagnosed at a young age—she was 33 when doctors confirmed stage III colorectal cancer.

“I was pregnant with my second child when I began having constipation,” she explained. “Each night, I’d wake up with an urgent need to go to the bathroom. But then I’d sit on the toilet, unable to empty my bowels. It was annoying and interfered with my sleep.”

Jaystan Davis had a similar experience but was even younger. He was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer at just 19.

“I thought the inconsistent stools I was experiencing were from diet changes I’d made,” he said. “I was scared and very confused.”

Blood in the Stool or Toilet Bowl

Anatole Karpovs, a pediatrician diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer at 37, recalled months of symptoms before seeking help:

“I experienced bloody stools, bowel changes, and abdominal pains for months.

“But as a doctor with a busy practice and a hectic family life, I didn’t have time to be sick. So, I explained away my symptoms or minimised them. It was only later, when they became persistent enough that I couldn’t ignore them, that I finally sought treatment.”

Robert Harris, who was 76 when he received a stage III diagnosis, described a similar warning sign:

“I started having dark stools and a little pain in my lower abdomen, so I called my family doctor.

“She thought it might be my appendix, since the pain was on my right side, so she brought me in for a check-up. But then she did a digital exam and said there was blood in my stool.”

Unexplained Weight Loss

“Most people get a bit heavier over the holidays,” said Kenneth Rolston, who was 66 when he was diagnosed with stage I colorectal cancer.

Instead, by early 2017, Kenneth noticed that he had been losing weight steadily for about four months—without any effort to do so.

“I was also experiencing fatigue,” Kenneth added.

His symptoms eventually pushed him to schedule a doctor’s visit after his wife expressed concern one evening at dinner, saying: “You are literally melting away before my eyes. What’s it going to take to get you to go to the doctor?”

Medical professionals strongly advise people not to delay contacting their doctor if they notice any of these symptoms.

“Things like diarrhoea and constipation are so general that they could be due to many possible causes,” Richards explains.

“None of them necessarily means that you have colorectal cancer. But if a symptom is persistent, rather than a one-time issue, it should at least warrant a conversation with your doctor.

“And, some symptoms, such as rectal bleeding, black stools, and anaemia, should prompt a visit to your doctor, if they haven’t already been evaluated.”