Every 15 minutes, someone in England and Wales is diagnosed with bowel cancer.
A one-stop rectal clinic can identify both ‘at risk’ patients and those with more minor conditions. Rectal bleeding can be an indicator of problems including bowel cancer, and is a common and worrying symptom that can occur in either sex at any time of life. The vast majority of patients with bleeding will not have bowel cancer, but more irritating, ‘minor’ conditions which can be treated in clinic.

It is important to be fully assessed, including evaluating past and family history, especially if symptoms have changed. Indicators for concern include changes in bowel habit, especially towards the more frequent, anaemia and rectal bleeding without any anal symptoms (e.g. haemorrhoids).

Home testing
We will arrange a diagnosis of blood in the motion by a simple test conducted yourself at home. This is because bleeding can occur at any part of the intestine and may not always be visibly obvious. With a full assessment and examination by a Consultant, diagnosis and treatment of the more minor conditions can often be made in clinic.

Should further investigations be needed, your Consultant can quickly arrange the following: full examination of the large bowel (colonoscopy), abdominal and pelvic ultrasound, blood tests, MRI and CT scans.

Should I have this test?
If you are over 50 or have any of the symptoms above, then yes, early detection can mean cancer is curable.

To book an appointment with a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, please call on 020 8341 4182 and ask for Woolaston House.