Bowel cancer is now the most fatal cancer among people under 50, while rates are rising globally among younger adults. Campaigners are urging people to recognize possible warning signs and seek medical advice rather than dismissing symptoms.

Around 48,200 new cases of bowel cancer are reported in the UK every year. The disease is the fourth most common cancer, adding urgency to efforts to improve awareness and earlier detection.

Surgeons have assembled a checklist intended for people to use before the age of 45. Screening begins at 50 in England, Scotland and Wales, making awareness of symptoms particularly important for younger adults.

The American College of Surgeons, known as the ACS, cautions that the same symptoms can have harmless causes but should not be dismissed. Catching bowel cancer early can dramatically improve survival rates and treatment outcomes.

Named the Colon Cancer Symptom Checklist, the document groups possible warning signs into several categories. These include changes involving the bowel and the appearance of stool.

The ACS describes early onset colorectal cancer as cancer diagnosed before the age of 50. It also says symptoms in younger adults are sometimes missed, so it is encouraging people to recognize possible signs and arrange a GP appointment when necessary.

The first section asks people to record whether they have experienced a change in their bowel habits, including constipation or diarrhea. It also asks whether they feel that their bowel does not empty completely.

Users are encouraged to make notes about how long each symptom has been present. This can help them prepare relevant information before discussing their concerns with a GP.

Another section focuses specifically on bright red blood. It asks whether blood has appeared on toilet paper, in the toilet bowl or mixed with stool.

The checklist also asks when the person first noticed blood in their stool. Another question asks whether the blood appears on the stool or is mixed within it.

Further questions examine possible hereditary or previous health links. People are asked whether they have a family history of colon cancer or polyps, or whether they have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.

The inflammatory bowel disease question specifically mentions Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These details can be recorded alongside the other symptoms and their duration before a medical appointment.

The NHS separately advises people to visit a GP if they have experienced possible bowel cancer symptoms for three weeks or longer. Its symptom list includes softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for the person.

Needing to poo more often or less often than usual is another possible warning signs. Blood in poo may also be a concern, and the blood can look red or black.

Another symptom is often feeling as though you need to poo, even after you have just been to the toilet. Feeling very tired or short of breath as possible signs of anaemia, which can be caused by bowel cancer.