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Bowel (colorectal) cancer

Around 43,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year. Also known as colorectal cancer, bowel cancer is the 4th most common cancer in the UK.

Symptoms of bowel cancer can include a change in your normal bowel habit – such as pooing more often, looser poo or constipation – or blood in your poo.

Showing 12 out of 344 results
Lab-grown bowel cancer cells seen through a microscope. They are colour-enhanced and appear blue.

A new testing technique with genome sequencing is 90% accurate at predicting which high-risk people with IBD will develop bowel cancer, according to a study by our scientists.  A new testing technique with genome sequencing is 90% accurate at predicting which high-risk people with IBD will develop bowel cancer, according to a study by our scientists. 

by Tim Gunn | News | 30 January 2025

30 January 2025

A microscope image showing immune cells in bowel cancer.

A new AI test that looks at immune cells could help people with stage 2 bowel cancer avoid chemotherapy after surgery, cutting side effects. A new AI test that looks at immune cells could help people with stage 2 bowel cancer avoid chemotherapy after surgery, cutting side effects.

by Sadaf Shafaghmotlagh, Tim Gunn | Analysis | 27 January 2025

27 January 2025

Salmonella bacteria (rod-shaped organisms coloured blue) in a bowel cancer tumour (coloured beige). The bacteria looks like it is rushing into a hole in the tumour tissue.

Our researchers are modifying Salmonella bacteria into a treatment that can work with the immune system to attack bowel cancer from two sides at once. Our researchers are modifying Salmonella bacteria into a treatment that can work with the immune system to attack bowel cancer from two sides at once.

by Tim Gunn, Fiona MacLeod | News | 23 January 2025

23 January 2025

A man in a bathroom opening a bowel cancer screening test kit (FIT kit) from NHS England.

NHS England's bowel cancer screening is expanding to 50 and 52-year-olds. Everyone 50 to 74 will now receive a FIT kit every two years. NHS England's bowel cancer screening is expanding to 50 and 52-year-olds. Everyone 50 to 74 will now receive a FIT kit every two years.

by Tim Gunn | News | 14 January 2025

14 January 2025

A man in a bathroom opening a bowel cancer screening test kit from NHS England.

New data analysis from our Cancer Intelligence team has shown that around 89,800 cancer cases have been detected by the three national screening programmes in England in the last five years New data analysis from our Cancer Intelligence team has shown that around 89,800 cancer cases have been detected by the three national screening programmes in England in the last five years

by Amy Warnock | News | 19 December 2024

19 December 2024

Dr Yin Cao and a colleague looking at data about cancer incidence.

Rising rates of early-onset bowel cancer are a “global phenomenon”, and some of the steepest increases are happening in England, according to a major new paper we helped fund. Rising rates of early-onset bowel cancer are a “global phenomenon”, and some of the steepest increases are happening in England, according to a major new paper we helped fund.

by Tim Gunn | News | 11 December 2024

11 December 2024

Grapes

Scientists, funded by Cancer Research UK, are finding out if an ingredient commonly found in red grapes could hold the answer to help prevent bowel cancer. Scientists, funded by Cancer Research UK, are finding out if an ingredient commonly found in red grapes could hold the answer to help prevent bowel cancer.

by Sophie Wedekind | News | 11 November 2024

11 November 2024

A medical professional drawing a dose of a vaccine from a vial with a syringe

LynchVax could help prevent cancer in people with Lynch syndrome, who have a higher risk of bowel cancer, womb cancer and some other types. LynchVax could help prevent cancer in people with Lynch syndrome, who have a higher risk of bowel cancer, womb cancer and some other types.

by Tim Gunn | News | 10 September 2024

10 September 2024

A medical professional drawing a dose of a vaccine from a vial with a syringe

Thousands of cancer patients in England are set to gain fast-tracked access to trials of personalised cancer vaccines following the launch of a world-leading NHS trial ‘matchmaking' service Thousands of cancer patients in England are set to gain fast-tracked access to trials of personalised cancer vaccines following the launch of a world-leading NHS trial ‘matchmaking' service

by Jacob Smith | News | 31 May 2024

31 May 2024

That Cancer Conversation in a white speech bubble with a dark blue background

In this episode we speak to Dr Anisha Patel, Dr Anisha Patel, a GP and the author of ‘Everything you hoped you’d never need to know about bowel cancer’. In this episode we speak to Dr Anisha Patel, Dr Anisha Patel, a GP and the author of ‘Everything you hoped you’d never need to know about bowel cancer’.

by Cancer Research UK | Podcast | 30 April 2024

30 April 2024

This entry is part 17 of 22 in the series That Cancer Conversation