It's pretty easy to spot when there's something wrong when we go to the toilet, but what is often less clear is whether it's something we should be worried about. One doctor has outlined six symptoms she says you should "never ignore".

In the UK around 44,100 people are diagnosed with cancer in the colon or rectum every year, making it the fourth most common form of the disease in Britain, according to Cancer Research UK. Macmillan Cancer Support says the condition is more common in older people, but the number of those aged younger than 50 developing the disease is increasing.

Dr Sana Sadoxai, who has more than 41,000 followers on TikTok, where she offers health and wellbeing tips and advice, outlined six symptoms of colon cancer "you should never ignore". In the description she wrote: "Here are 6 symptoms you might ignore - but shouldn't".

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The six symptoms are:

Constipation or diarrhoea that just doesn't feel right

Pencil-thin stools that don't go back to normal

Unexplained weight loss (even if you didn't mind)

Ongoing fatigue despite good sleep

Blood in the toilet or on the paper

A constant feeling like your bowels didn't fully empty

She concluded: "These symptoms don't always mean cancer - but sometimes, they do. And catching it early can truly save your life."

TikTok users shared their experiences in the comments. One said: "I’ve been to my doctor eight times with a lot of those symptoms and all they do is send me home with omeprazole."

Another said: "Bloating and pain when eating foods was my symptoms nothing else."

A third wrote: "You should always get checked when you have these symptoms just to be safe. But just so people don’t panic, I had these symptoms minus the weight loss. Did a full check-up, blood sample, stool sample, and colonoscopy. Turned out to just be some internal haemorrhoids. So in short: don’t panic, but get it checked out."

What causes colon cancer?

According to MacMillan, the causes of colon cancer are unknown, but there are risk factors that can increase the likelihood of developing it. These include:

• Age: Around four in 10 cases of bowel cancer diagnosed in the UK are seen in people aged 75 and older.


• Diet: Eating a lot of red and processed meat can increase the risk of bowel cancer, as well as not eating enough fibre.


• Weight: Being overweight can increase the risk of bowel cancer, especially in men.


• Low physical activity: People who spend lots of time sitting or being physically inactive are at increased risk.


• Drinking alcohol. Around six per cent of cases in the UK are linked to alcohol consumption.


• Smoking.


• Family history: While having one family member who developed colon cancer does not increase a person's risk, if several close family members have had the disease, risk may be higher.


• Inflammatory bowel conditions: These include ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. People with these conditions may be offered regular bowel screening. This does not include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is not an inflammatory bowel condition.


• Type 2 diabetes: People with this condition are at a greater risk of bowel cancer.

How is colon cancer diagnosed?

Anyone who is concerned they may be suffering symptoms of colon cancer should speak to their GP. They will carry out an examination of the tummy area to feel for lumps or swelling. Your GP may then refer you to a specialist doctor. Tests carried out in hospital can include a colonoscopy, a biopsy, blood samples, and others.

Everyone aged between 50 and 74 is also offered bowel screening every two years, except in Northern Ireland, where the screening programme begins at 60. This is in the form of a kit used to collect a stool sample, which is delivered automatically thought the post.

Colon cancer is also sometimes diagnosed in hospital after a person has been admitted for reasons such as a blockage in the bowel.