Bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Western countries, but when detected early, it is often survivable.
A UK doctor has issued an urgent health alert that could help save countless lives across Britain.
Dr Karan Rajan is urging everyone to learn five crucial warning signs of bowel cancer that too many people ignore.
The disease remains the second deadliest cancer in Western nations, but catching it early makes all the difference, with Dr Rajan insisting symptoms "save your life" when spotted promptly.
Dr Rajan recommends checking your toilet habits regularly
|GETTY / TIKTOK
His timely warning comes as medical experts grow increasingly worried about a troubling pattern emerging in younger adults.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things Britons can do to protect themselves, from simple dietary changes to lifestyle adjustments.
The five symptoms Dr Rajan wants everyone to remember start with any lasting shift in toilet habits.
When bowel cancer develops, it can create blockages that cause constipation or allow only liquid through, resulting in diarrhoea that persists for weeks. Blood from the back passage is another red flag.
"Never assume it's normal and something like haemorrhoids," Dr Rajan warned.
Feeling constantly worn out might signal internal bleeding that's depleting your blood supply. Similarly, losing weight without trying could indicate cancer's metabolic effects on your body.
Finally, ongoing stomach discomfort that won't shift deserves attention, with Dr Rajan advising anyone experiencing these symptoms to contact their doctor immediately.
The prevention advice is refreshingly straightforward. Dr Rajan recommends checking your toilet habits regularly so you know what's normal for you.
Boosting your fibre intake is one of the best defences against bowel cancer. It may sound simple, but it can make such a difference, the expert stressed.
Dr Rajan also stressed that ditching cigarettes and vapes helps protect against various cancers, not just lung disease. Cutting back on alcohol provides similar benefits.
"If you want more information about reducing your risk of conditions like bowel cancer, head over to the Bupa website," he suggested.
These lifestyle tweaks might seem basic, but they're proven to work. Making these changes now could genuinely save your life later.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
The doctor warned that a lasting shift in toilet habits is a red flag
|GETTY
The warning comes as medical professionals have noticed an alarming shift in who's getting bowel cancer.
In fact, scientists have found the disease might soon top the list of cancer deaths in people younger than 50.
Nobody's quite sure why this is happening, though experts suspect environmental issues and poor eating habits play a role.
Dr Yin Cao from Washington University in St Louis shared her thoughts with Cancer Research UK: "Early-onset colorectal cancer is a growing global phenomenon. But at the same time, it is still rare."
She adds reassurance for worried Britons: "The important thing to focus on is that the rate of colorectal cancer in 25 to 49-year-olds is the same across the UK at this point."
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter