Ambulance 912HAP 9252
Back to all symptoms and conditions
General health information

Bowel cancer

Bowel cancer is a cancerous tumour in the colon or rectum. If you have blood in your stool, a persistent change in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss or anaemia, this needs investigation, but may also have another cause.

In this article
Choose which sections to read

  • Bowel cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum. Small bowel cancer is a different, much rarer condition.
  • The disease may cause few symptoms for a long time. Bleeding, anaemia and a persistent change in bowel habits are reasons for investigation.
  • Symptoms alone do not prove cancer; piles, inflammation, infection and other bowel problems may cause the same symptoms.
  • An examination of the bowel with a camera and tissue testing usually establishes the diagnosis. Scans show how far the disease has spread.
  • Surgery is the main treatment for many localised tumours. Chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy may also be needed.
  • The outlook varies greatly with the stage and tumour characteristics. Early detection usually increases the chance of a cure.
  • Screening and follow-up care in Curaçao may be organised differently from the Netherlands. Ask your family doctor which local pathway applies to you.

Your response

Two anonymous questions

Did you find what you were looking for?

Do you now have a clearer idea of your next step?

Share article

Email

Do you need a healthcare provider after reading?

Search by type of care, organisation, name or district.

Further reading

Browse A–Z
K
Kidney cancerKidney cancer usually develops from cells in the kidney tubules. A kidney tumour is often found by chance on a scan; blood in the urine, persistent flank pain or unexplained weight loss needs investigation.
I
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)IBS causes recurrent abdominal pain related to bowel movements and changes in how often you pass stools or how hard they are. There is no visible bowel damage, but the symptoms are real. Bleeding, weight loss, fever or symptoms at night require investigation for another cause.
O
Ovarian cancerOvarian cancer often causes vague but persistent symptoms, such as bloating, feeling full quickly, abdominal or pelvic pain and needing to urinate more often. These symptoms usually have another cause, but new symptoms that recur frequently deserve investigation. Diagnosis and treatment belong with a specialist team.