Dr Barbara has issued a stark warning to young people after she diagnosed a 28-year old with bowel cancer – the youngest patient she has ever seen with the disease
An NHS GP has issued a crucial health warning to young people following the diagnosis of a 28-year old patient with bowel cancer. “This is the youngest patient I have personally seen that has been diagnosed with bowel cancer so I have to talk about it,” Dr Barbara stated in a TikTok video.
“We are actually seeing an increased rate in bowel cancer patients under the age of 50,” she cautioned. Dr Barbara went on to explain that the situation is “complex”, attributing the rise to a combination of issues. “It’s due to environmental factors, lifestyle choices – things that are affecting our gut health,” she elaborated.
Dr Barbara went on to emphasise the importance of early detection of bowel cancer and recognising its symptoms. She then listed five signs that should not be overlooked.
“So, if you notice there is a change in your bowel habits – you’ve started feeling more constipated all the time or you’re having diarrhoea all the time – this has to be looked into,” she advised.
The doctor underscored: “Always look before you flush. Blood in your poo has to be investigated. Even if you have haemorrhoids, blood in your poo has to be investigated.”
Dr Barbara also highlighted that unexplained weight loss is another symptom to be aware of. “If you’re dropping off the pounds but you haven’t changed your diet, you’ve not started exercising… you need to get this checked out,” she said.
Meanwhile, another warning sign to watch out for is excessive tiredness. “If you’re tired all the time, feeling fatigued even though you are sleeping well – please don’t ignore this,” she urged.
Dr Barbara emphasised: “Tummy pain or feeling like there’s a lump inside your tummy – it has to be examined now.”
Closing, she reminded viewers that while these symptoms may not necessarily indicate bowel cancer, they certainly require further investigation.
“These symptoms don’t automatically mean you have bowel cancer, but they do warrant further investigation,” she said. “So please, never ignore them. Always get them checked out – and if you feel you aren’t being listened to, get a second opinion.”
Five bowel cancer warning signs you should never ignore
- Changes to your bowel habits
- Blood in your poo
- Unexplained weight loss
- Excessive tiredness
- Tummy pain
Backing up Dr Barbara’s advice, the NHS website states that symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
- needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
- blood in your poo, which may look red or black
- bleeding from your bottom
- often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
- tummy pain
- a lump in your tummy
- bloating
- losing weight without trying
- feeling very tired or short of breath – these are signs of anaemia, which can be caused by bowel cancer
It adds: “See a GP if you have any symptoms of bowel cancer for 3 weeks or more. Try not to be embarrassed. The doctor or nurse will be used to talking about these symptoms.”