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Bowel Cancer

Mr Ferguson is an expert in the surgical mangement of Colorectal ('bowel') cancer. He is a core member of the Colorectal Cancer Multidisciplinary Team at Warwick Hospital, and regularly chairs the weekly Cancer MDT Meetings. He has a compassionate approach to all of his patients, is a skilled diagnostician, and regularly performs major cancer surgery, including robotic bowel resection.

 

If you are concerned you may have bowel cancer, or already have a diagnosis,

Mr Ferguson is an ideal choice to care for you.

What is Bowel Cancer?

  • Bowel cancer, also known as Colorectal Cancer, is a cancer which is found anywhere in the large bowel, which includes the colon and rectum.

  • The large bowel is part of your digestive system. It helps absorb water from your food and removes food waste from your body.

  • How serious bowel cancer is depends on how big the cancer is, if the cancer has spread, and your general health.

  • Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK.

  • Investigating your symptoms can pick up bowel cancer early, which may mean it's easier to treat.

 

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Symptoms of Bowel Cancer

  • 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 is 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 for no reason

Risk Factors for Bowel Cancer

  • It's not always known what causes bowel cancer, but it can be caused by genetic changes, lifestyle, and environmental factors.

  • Having certain health conditions can also make you more likely to get bowel cancer.

  • You may be more likely to get bowel cancer if:

  • you're over 50

  • you smoke

  • you're overweight

  • a close relative has had bowel cancer

  • you have inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

  • you have small growths in your bowel called bowel polyps

  • you have a genetic condition such as Lynch Syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)

Tests For Bowel Cancer

  • The best way to diagnose bowel cancer is to see a specialist

  • Camera tests of the bowel are the most common was to make a diagnosis

  • This could be either:

    • A Colonoscopy​

    • A Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

  • Some non-invasive tests can also help to check for bowel cancer:

    • Stool FIT Test​

    • CT Virtual Colonoscopy

    • Abdominal CT Scan

Treatments for Bowel Cancer

  • The treatment you'll have for bowel cancer depends on:

    • the size of the cancer

    • if the cancer is in your colon or rectum, or both

    • if it has spread to other parts of your body

    • if the cancer has certain genetic changes

    • your age and general health

  • You may be offered a combination of treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted medicines.

  • Your specialist treatment team will:

    • explain the treatments, the benefits and side effects

    • work with you to make a treatment plan that's best for you

    • help you to manage the side effects of treatment

Concerned you may have Bowel Cancer?

If you are concerned you may have bowel cancer, or already have a diagnosis which you wish to discuss, please make an appointment to see Mr Ferguson. He is a core member of the Colorectal Cancer MDT at Warwick Hospital, is a skilled diagnostic endoscopist and regularly performs major surgery for bowel cancer, including robotic and laparoscopic surgery as standard.

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