Common symptoms

Early colorectal cancer may have no symptoms.
If we can recognise the possible warning symptoms of cancer, diagnosis can be reached earlier, thus the chance of treatment being effective will be higher.
Common symptoms of colorectal cancer include:
- Change in bowel habits (diarrhoea or constipation) with unknown reason and lasting for more than two weeks
- Blood or a large amount of mucus in the stool
- Persistent urge after passing stool
- Abdominal discomfort (persistent pain, bloating, fullness or cramps)
- Weight loss and tiredness with unknown reason
Although having the aforementioned symptoms does not necessarily mean having colorectal cancer, they should raise our awareness and prompt us to consult a doctor. The doctor will ask you for relevant information and medical history, and will subsequently perform a physical examination, with or without further investigations.