A bowel cancer awareness special with Consultant Surgeon Miss Sarah Addison
The Midlands Bowel Clinic – April 2025
April marks Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, a vital opportunity to highlight the importance of recognising symptoms early and seeking timely support. Bowel cancer remains the second biggest cause of cancer-related death in the UK, yet it is highly treatable—especially when caught in its early stages.
To mark this important month, we sat down with Miss Sarah Addison, Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon here at Midlands Bowel Clinic. With over 20 years of experience, Miss Addison is a leading expert in colorectal conditions, including cancer, benign bowel disorders, and functional issues such as constipation and incontinence. She works closely with uro-gynaecologists in a multidisciplinary setting to support patients with even the most complex pelvic floor and bowel health challenges.
Understanding bowel cancer: Why early detection is key
Each year, around 44,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with bowel cancer—also known as colorectal cancer, which affects the large bowel (the colon and rectum). It’s the fourth most common cancer in the country, and yet it’s the second most deadly.
But there’s hope: 9 in 10 people survive when the disease is caught early. That’s why we’re encouraging everyone to understand what’s normal for their bowels—and to feel empowered to speak up when something changes.
Miss Addison explains:
“When the bowel’s unhappy, it usually tells us in just two ways: it changes how it works, or it bleeds. And while these changes can be caused by many different conditions, they’re always worth checking.”
Know the red flags
If you’ve noticed any of the following for more than a few weeks, speak to your GP:
- A persistent change in bowel habit (e.g. looser stools, constipation, or alternating between the two)
- Blood in your stool (bright red or darker, older-looking blood)
- A feeling that your bowels aren’t emptying properly
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue or signs of anaemia (like tiredness or breathlessness)
“Iron-deficiency anaemia can be a subtle sign of bowel cancer due to slow blood loss,” adds Miss Addison. “That alone can be enough to trigger further investigations.”
What’s a FIT test and when do you need a colonoscopy?
The Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is a simple, non-invasive home test that looks for hidden blood in your stool. If your FIT test is positive, you’ll likely be referred for a colonoscopy—a gold-standard test that allows us to directly view the inside of the bowel, remove any polyps, and take samples.
If your FIT test is negative, that’s reassuring. But no test is perfect. Miss Addison explains:
“Less than 1% of cases are missed, but if symptoms persist, we’ll still investigate—often through the FIT-negative pathway, which might include a colonoscopy or a CT colonography.”
These tests may not be pleasant, but they are essential tools in preventing or catching cancer early.
A personal perspective: Why colonoscopy matters
Miss Addison shared her own family’s story to underline just how vital early detection can be:
“My mum died of bowel cancer. She’d had just one rectal bleed and insisted she didn’t have any symptoms. But when we cleared out her house, we found a huge stash of laxatives—she’d been self-managing long-term constipation.
Had she had a colonoscopy five years earlier, I believe she would still be here. That experience is why I’m such an advocate for colonoscopy.”
We need to talk about poo
Despite how open society has become on many personal topics, bowel health remains taboo. And it’s harming people.
“We talk about our diets, our beliefs, even our sex lives—but we still struggle to say the word ‘poo’,” says Miss Addison. “For many women especially, needing a bowel movement at work is seen as embarrassing. I see so many patients who have trained their bodies not to go because of social pressure.”
She continues:
“We all have a bottom. We all fart—about two litres of gas a day, actually! It’s totally normal. Until we start treating it that way, people will keep ignoring symptoms they shouldn’t.”
So what should you do?
If you’ve had symptoms for more than six weeks—even if you’ve had a negative FIT test—please don’t ignore them. Talk to your GP, or ask for a referral to the Midlands Bowel Clinic.
“These things are usually very treatable,” says Miss Addison. “The earlier we see you, the easier it is to help.”
Let’s normalise the conversation
At Midlands Bowel Clinic, we believe that better awareness, easier access to tests, and a more open attitude towards bowel health can save lives.
This April, make time to check in with yourself—or someone you care about. Has anything changed with your bowels? Have you been putting off a test? There’s no shame in getting checked. In fact, it’s one of the most important things you can do for your health.
To find out more about bowel cancer symptoms, FIT testing, or booking a colonoscopy, contact The Midlands Bowel Clinic or speak to your GP today.
