Bowel Cancer
Complete and comprehensive care for bowel cancer patients
Did you know New Zealand has one of the highest incidences of bowel cancer in the world?
If detected early, bowel cancer is curable. The key is early detection. This is why it is so important to know the signs of bowel cancer and talk to your GP as soon as you have any symptoms.
What to look out for
For some, discussing bowel symptoms is unpleasant or embarrassing, and so they ignore them for as long as they can. Unfortunately, by then the prognosis may not be as good. Signs and symptoms of bowel cancer are many and varied, including:
- Blood in the stools and/or bleeding from the rectum
- A change in bowel habit lasting longer than 6 weeks (e.g. loose stools, diarrhea or constipation)
- Abdominal pain (often severe)
- Lumps or a mass in the abdomen
- Weight loss, often unintentional
- Weakness and tiredness (symptoms of anemia)
If you have any of these symptoms, it’s vital that you see your GP. Your GP will order
tests, assess your health and refer you to a specialist if they have any concerns.
You can ask to be referred to us. Your comfort, safety and well-being are our highest priority. You can read more about our expertise here.
