change in bowel habit - NICE urgent cancer referral guidance
Last edited 09/2020
Change in bowel habit
| Symptom and Specific Features | Possible Cancer | Recommendation |
| Change in bowel habit (unexplained), 60 and over) | Colorectal | Refer people using a suspected cancer pathway referral (for an appointment within 2 weeks) |
| Symptom and Specific Features | Possible Cancer | Recommendation |
| Change in bowel habit (unexplained) with rectal bleeding, in adults under 50 | Colorectal | Consider a suspected cancer pathway referral (for an appointment within 2 weeks) |
| Symptom and Specific Features | Possible Cancer | Recommendation |
| Change in bowel habit without rectal bleeding, under 60 | Colorectal | Offer testing for occult blood in faeces (faecal immunochemical testing) |
| Symptom and Specific Features | Possible Cancer | Recommendation |
| Change in bowel habit. (unexplained) in women | Ovarian |
Measure serum CA125 in primary care
|
| Symptom and Specific Features | Possible Cancer | Recommendation |
| Diarrhoea or constipation with weight loss, 60 and over | Pancreatic | Consider an urgent direct access CT scan (to be performed within 2 weeks), or an urgent ultrasound scan if CT is not available |
| Symptom and Specific Features | Possible Cancer | Recommendation |
| Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms within the last 12 months, in women 50 and over | Ovarian | Measure Ca-125 |
Reference:
NICE urgent cancer referral guidance
NICE urgent cancer referral guidance (guidelines with respect to presenting symptoms and signs)