The colorectal cancer nurse specialist team provide support to each patient from the time of diagnosis onwards and can be contacted on 0113 2065535.
Signs and symptoms
Colorectal cancer might not cause symptoms right away, but if it does, it may cause one or more of these symptoms:
- A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days
- A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that’s not relieved by having one
- Rectal bleeding with bright red blood
- Blood in the stool, which may make the stool look dark
- Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
- Weakness and fatigue
- Unintended weight loss
If you have any of these symptoms you should contact your GP for advice.
Diagnostic tests
There are a number of different tests used in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer
- Digital rectal examination – this is an examination of the rectum using the doctor`s finger to assess is there is any abnormality
- Faecal occult blood – this is a stool sample that is sent to the laboratory to be tested for blood
- Sigmoidoscopy – is a procedure using a long tube which allows the endoscopist to examine the large bowel. It is usual for biopsies to be taken
- Colonoscopy – is a procedure using a long tube which allows the endoscopist to examine the bowel. It is usual for biopsies to be taken
- Barium enema – is a procedure where barium liquid is inserted (via a tube) into the rectum. Once this has happened an x-ray is taken of the bowel
- CT scan
- MRI scan