Hearing ‘I’m stuffed!’ echoing across the dining table is usually taken as a sign of a successful meal—but a gut doctor has warned of five symptomatic overlaps between Christmas bloat and bowel cancer.
During the festive season it’s not uncommon to indulge in more booze than usual, cheeseboards, buttery pastries, graze on fistfuls of chocolate and have seasonal sandwiches and extra-sugary coffees and hot chocolates from the High Street… even before we’ve made it to Christmas dinner itself.
With so many extra rich foods being added to our plates, often on a daily basis, Dr Fuad Jafarov, a gastroenterologist from Turkish healthcare group ACIBADEM, says it’s not uncommon for people to experience bloating and changes in their bowel habits in the final months of the year.
However, some changes might be more than just the outcome of scoffing one mince pie too many, they could be a symptom of bowel cancer.
Dr Jafarov said: ‘Bowel cancer is far more treatable when caught early, so listen to your body especially after the indulging part of the festivities are over.
‘It really could make the difference between survival or, sadly, something more serious.’
Around 42,000 Britons are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year, with 17,400 dying of the disease.
There has been a worrying surge of the devastating illness being diagnosed in people aged under 50 in the past decade, with experts at a loss as to what is causing the spike.
Dr Jafarov said that bloating is normal, but not if it lasts longer than expected.
Early warning signs of bowel cancer include blood in stool, changes to bowel habits, weight loss and fatigue, as well as a pain, lump or bowel obstruction.
Another common early symptom is bloating—which is regarded as many Britons as part and parcel of the festive period.
‘Most people shouldn’t be too worried about post-Christmas dinner bloating, as we tend to overindulge and eat a lot of foods that produce gas,’ he said.
However, if you notice you’re bloated without any explanation—for instance if you haven’t eaten any known ‘trigger foods’, or veered too far from your usual daily diet—and you’re feeling uncomfortably swollen for several weeks, it could be cause for concern.
This is especially true if the bloating is accompanied by changes to your bowel habits.
Dr Jafarov added: ‘In the context of bowel cancer specifically, bloating is less about one heavy meal and more about ongoing abdominal fullness and bloating, and swelling that doesn’t settle.’
Eating and drinking more inevitably means more trips to the bathroom, but this can also be a warning sign of bowel cancer, especially if you notice that you are going more frequently than your usual pattern for several weeks.
‘Bowel cancer can cause looser stools, increased urgency, or the feeling that you have not fully emptied your bowels,’ said Dr Jafarov.
‘There is no fixed number that defines “too many” or “too little”. The key sign is a change from your normal routine for a number of weeks and doesn’t return to normal.’
The third overlap highlighted by Dr Jafarov is experiencing a crippling level of fatigue.
‘Feeling sleepy after a big Christmas dinner can feel normal, and a lot of people might head for a post-Christmas dinner nap,’ he said.
‘However, what is concerning is the fatigue that feels out of the ordinary compared to your daily activity and continues for long periods of time.
‘Bowel cancer can cause slow, chronic blood loss, which leads to iron deficiency anemia.
‘This tiredness won’t improve with just a few extra naps, and you should consult your doctor if you’re feeling consistently sleepy.’
One of the warning signs of blood loss can be found in the toilet bowl—bloody stools or blood on the toilet paper after wiping.
‘Foods like beetroot, cranberry sauce, and even red food colouring can temporarily turn stool red or pink. This usually passes quickly and is not a cause for concern,’ said Dr Jafarov.
‘However, persistent red or dark blood in the stool, bleeding without an obvious dietary cause, or blood mixed in with the stool rather than on the surface should always be checked by a doctor.
‘Bowel cancer can cause rectal bleeding, and this should never be ignored.’
The gut doctor’s final overlap is noticing that you feel full up quickly, have a loss of appetite or unexpectedly lose weight.
He explained: ‘Feeling full unusually quickly such as after your starters, known as early satiety, can occasionally be linked to conditions that affect the digestive system, including bowel cancer.
‘While it’s common to feel overstuffed at Christmas, especially if you’ve been grazing on chocolate and snacks all day, a consistent pattern of getting full very quickly, losing your appetite, or unintentionally losing weight should be checked by a doctor.
‘You know how much you normally eat, so compare what you’re likely to eat normally to what you’re eating now to see if there’s a big difference.
‘If you find yourself getting full before Christmas dinner, and this is out of the ordinary, then it’s best to get this checked.’
Read more
- Could feeling overly stuffed at Christmas signal the alarming rise of bowel cancer among young Brits?
- Is your festive feast causing gut grievances? Discover Dr Lee’s top tips to dodge Christmas bloat and keep your tummy trouble-free this season!
- Could your persistent bloating be something deadly? Discover what symptoms may hint at ovarian or bowel cancer!
- Could ignoring persistent bloating be denying a crucial bowel cancer warning sign? Learn about the secretive nature of this deadly disease!
- Are clandestine symptoms like pencil-thin stools and unexplained fatigue warning signs of the rapidly rising killer, bowel cancer?
