Two Fifth Of Bowel Cancer Patients See GP Five Times Before Referred To Specialist | HuffPost Life

Two Fifth Of Bowel Cancer Patients See GP Five Times Before Referred To Specialist

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Two fifths of female bowel cancer patients were forced to visit their GP five times before being referred on to a specialist, a poll suggests.

Bowel Cancer UK said 42% of female patients and one in ten male sufferers under the age of 50 visited their general practitioner on at least five different occasions before being sent to a specialist or being admitted to hospital as an emergency.

The poll of 109 patients showed that one in five women had to wait more than a year before being diagnosed with the disease.

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Know Your Body, Spot Cancer Symptoms

A lump or swelling anywhere on your body needs checking out(01 of10)

AXA’s research found that 79% of people were able to correctly identify breast lumps as a potential indicator of cancer. But a lump or swelling in any part of the body, including the armpit, neck, abdomen, groin or chest area, is worth having checked by a doctor. (credit:Alamy)

Talk about your toilet habits(02 of10)

Diarrhoea or changes in bowel habits are most likely to be caused by a stomach bug or eating something that disagrees with you. But if you’re noticing changes that have lasted more than a few days, for example if your bowel movements are looser for three weeks or more, or you notice any blood when you’ve been to the toilet, then make an appointment to get it checked out. (credit:Alamy)

Sores and ulcers should disappear quickly – investigate them if they don’t(03 of10)

A lot of people get mouth ulcers when their immune system is low or they’re stressed. Generally they’re nothing to worry about and, as the lining of the mouth regenerates itself every couple of weeks, shouldn’t last long. But any ulcer that hasn’t healed after three weeks merits attention from your doctor or dentist. The same goes for any sore or spot that lasts for several weeks without healing – get it checked by a doctor. (credit:Alamy)

Difficult passing urine – not just an inevitable consequence of age (04 of10)

Many men find it more difficult to pass urine as they get older, needing to go more often or urgently or being unable to go when they need to. These problems are usually caused by an enlarged prostate, which is a common condition that is not in itself cause for concern. But occasionally these symptoms can be a sign of prostate cancer – either way, men experiencing these symptoms should see their GP. Similarly, while urinary tract infections are the most likely cause of women having pain or difficulty passing urine, this should pass relatively quickly. If it doesn’t, then any sudden urges to pass urine or the need to go more often should be discussed with your doctor. (credit:Alamy)

Lost weight without dieting?(05 of10)

It’s natural for most people’s weight to fluctuate over time. But if you haven’t instigated any changes in your diet or exercise regime and have obviously lost weight, then talk to your doctor. And if you’re experiencing heavy night sweats you should seek medical advice – these don’t always have a sinister cause, and can be brought about by certain infections or medications, but they’re worth checking. (credit:Alamy)

Coughing up blood needs to be checked out(06 of10)

If you’ve coughed up any blood, you should see your doctor, regardless of the amount of blood or frequency. It can be a sign of lung cancer, so needs to be checked out. (credit:Alamy)

Coughs and sore throats(07 of10)

Most of us will experience coughs or croaky voices at some point, normally when we’ve had a cold. But as with many other changes to your body, anything that hasn’t gone away after three weeks or so should be investigated. (credit:Alamy)

Educate yourself on what to look out for(08 of10)

AXA’s research found women were more likely than men to identify key cancer warning signs, including breast lumps, changes in bowel habits and irregular moles. But for both men and women, ensuring you’re aware of symptoms to keep an eye out for is important. Knowledge is power: understanding what you’re looking for means you can any changes checked out quickly. (credit:Alamy)

Know your own body(09 of10)

AXA’s research found only 6% of men and 3% of women check their bodies daily for anything unusual. But understanding what’s normal for your own body is essential if you’re to spot when anything has changed. If you do notice changes that are persisting for a long time, or causing you pain and discomfort, then see your GP. (credit:Alamy)

Don’t put off seeing the doctor!(10 of10)

A sizeable 61% of people AXA spoke to admitted they’d delayed seeing their doctor when they spotted changes that could be potential flags for cancer. But early detection of any problems can make a huge difference if any treatment is then needed. Similarly, if changes are harmless your doctor will be able to reassure you. Overall, the sooner you go to see your GP, the better. (credit:Alamy)

Deborah Alsina, chief executive officer of Bowel Cancer UK, said that it is "unacceptable" for younger patients to experience delays in diagnosis because they are considered "too young" to have the disease.

"We must ensure that bowel cancer is ruled out much earlier in the diagnostic process," she said.

"We must also ensure that those at greatest risk, for example, people with a genetic condition, receive the screening they need to detect any changes early.

"We are in touch with many younger patients and their families, who tell us stories of terrible heartbreak and worry caused by late diagnosis. We must take action and change this, as after all, bowel cancer is treatable but early diagnosis is key."

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