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Haematochezia found to be most accurate symptom of bowel cancer - 99.4% specificity

Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK. Like all forms of cancer, the prognosis significantly improves the earlier it's detected. That makes symptom awareness front and centre. A study published in the journal BMC Primary Care sought to determine which symptoms provide the most accurate predictor of bowel cancer.

For the study, 511 cases of cancer were recorded prospectively among 61,802 patients 16 years and older in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium and Scotland.

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is one of the main types of cancer associated with abdominal symptoms; hence, an in-depth subgroup analysis of the 94 colorectal cancers was carried out in order to study variation in symptom presentation among cancers in different anatomical locations.

Data was collected via a standardised form containing closed questions about symptoms recorded during the consultation.

Follow-up data were provided by the GP after diagnosis, based on medical record data made after the consultation.

GPs also provided free text comments about the diagnostic procedure for individual patients. 

What did the researchers find out?

Almost all symptoms recorded could indicate colorectal cancer.

"Rectal bleeding", also known as haematochezia, had a specificity of 99.4 percent, making it the most reliable indicator of bowel cancer.

Blood in stools may also indicate gastrointestinal bleeding. When these symptoms and signs were combined, sensitivity reached 57.5 percent.

General signs to spot

The symptoms of bowel cancer can be subtle and do not necessarily make you feel ill.

According to the NHS, More than 90 percent of people with bowel cancer have one of the following combinations of symptoms:

"See a GP if you have any of the symptoms of bowel cancer for three weeks or more," advises the health body.