The UK’s first liver transplant for advanced bowel cancer has been hailed a success. Bianca Perea, a 32-year-old trainee lawyer from Manchester, has been declared cancer-free after undergoing the procedure alongside other treatments such as targeted drug therapy and chemotherapy.
But what is bowel cancer? And what symptoms should we look out for?. What is bowel cancer?. “Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum,” explains Dr Lisa Wilde, director of research, policy, and influencing at Bowel Cancer UK. “Most bowel cancers develop from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps. But not all polyps develop into cancer.
“If your doctor finds any polyps, they can remove them to prevent them becoming cancerous.”. Here are some symptoms to look out for…. Bowel changes. A change in your pooing habits could be an early warning sign. “You might be going more or less often, or have diarrhoea or constipation that might come and go,” says Wilde.
Blood. Pain or lump in your stomach. “A pain or lump in your tummy is a symptom of bowel cancer,” says Wilde. Weight loss. Losing weight when you are not trying is also common in people with cancer. “Cancer may release chemicals in the body that contribute to the loss of fat and muscle.”.
