“Oh, and I’ve noticed a bit of blood, but it’s probably just haemorrhoids.”
You mention it almost as an afterthought.
Your GP nods, agrees it’s probably nothing, and moves on.
That might be the end of it. Or it might be the moment that mattered most in the whole appointment. And you were the one who almost let it slip by.
The symptoms worth naming, clearly
GPs see hundreds of patients. They can’t read your mind, and they won’t chase details you don’t offer.
Bowel Cancer Australia lists the symptoms worth naming out loud, not hinting at:
Blood in your poo (stool) or rectal bleeding
A recent and persistent change in bowel habit
A change in the shape of your poo
Frequent gas pain or cramps
Unexplained anaemia
A feeling the bowel hasn’t fully emptied
Pain or a lump in the anus or rectum
Abdominal pain or swelling.
None of these confirm bowel cancer on their own. Most don’t. But vague descriptions get vague responses. Specific ones get looked into.
If you’ve noticed symptoms like these, say what it looked like, how long it’s lasted, and how it’s changed. That’s the information your GP actually needs.
Why two weeks is the line
There’s a reason GPs ask “how long has this been going on?”
Bowel Cancer Australia recommends seeing a GP if any of these symptoms last two weeks or more. Not because two weeks is a magic number. Because it’s long enough to rule out a stomach bug or a dietary hiccup, and short enough that acting on it still matters.
Symptoms lasting under two weeks are usually nothing to escalate yet. Past that point, they’re worth a proper conversation, not a footnote at the end of an appointment about something else.
What if your GP says it’s probably nothing?
They’re often right. Most people with these symptoms don’t have bowel cancer. Piles, fissures, IBS, and diverticular disease are all far more common causes.
But “probably nothing” isn’t the same as “definitely nothing.” And you’re allowed to ask what happens next.
If your symptoms are unexplained and include rectal bleeding, a changed bowel habit, anaemia, abdominal pain, weight loss, or a lump, you should be referred for a colonoscopy within 30 days, regardless of your age. That’s the guideline. If your GP hasn’t mentioned a referral and your symptoms persist, it’s reasonable to ask about one directly.
You know your body better than a ten-minute appointment can capture. Trust that.
Bowel cancer isn’t just an over-50s disease
It’s a common assumption, and it’s an outdated one. Australia has the highest rate of early-onset bowel cancer of any country in a global analysis of 50 nations. Roughly 1 in 8 Australians diagnosed with bowel cancer are under 50, and the risk of diagnosis before age 40 has more than doubled since the year 2000.
If you’re under 45, ColoSTAT® isn’t the right tool. It’s indicated for ages 45 to 84. But the underlying message applies at any age: don’t let “you’re too young for that” be the end of the conversation. If you have symptoms, name them, and ask your GP what investigation looks like for you.
Age isn’t a reason to wait. It’s a detail your GP needs, not a reason to self-diagnose.
A newer option some GPs are using to triage
A newer option available in Australia is ColoSTAT®, a blood-based test developed from CSIRO research which has NATA accreditation. It’s intended for people aged 45–84 with symptoms of bowel cancer who are being assessed by a GP.
ColoSTAT® is not a replacement for colonoscopy, but it can help GPs decide who needs to be prioritised. A negative ColoSTAT® result carries a 99.4% negative predictive value, meaning if the result comes back negative, statistically, there is less than a 1% chance the patient has bowel cancer. For patients waiting in the system, this kind of additional information can be genuinely useful and reassuring.
If a blood test option like this is relevant to your situation, it’s worth asking your GP.
How to bring it up with your GP
Asking about a specific test can feel awkward. It doesn’t need to be.
Name it directly. Say “I’ve read about ColoSTAT®, a blood test for bowel cancer. Is that something worth considering for me?” GPs respond well to specifics.
Ask where it fits. ColoSTAT® supports triage. It doesn’t replace a colonoscopy. A good question is: “Would this change how urgently I need further investigation?”
Ask about turnaround. Results come back in 4–10 days. Useful to know if you’re already anxious about waiting.
Expect it might not be right for you. ColoSTAT® is intended for people aged 45–84 with symptoms. Your GP may recommend something else instead. That’s a normal part of the assessment, not a dismissal.
Bring it up early in the appointment. If you’ve mentioned symptoms already, this is a natural follow-on question, not a separate conversation.
You’re not asking your GP to skip steps. You’re asking what options exist and letting them decide what’s right for your situation.
You’re not overreacting, you’re acting now
Bringing up bowel symptoms is awkward. Embarrassment stops people from mentioning things that matter.
Here’s the reassurance worth holding onto: when bowel cancer is caught early, five-year survival is over 90%. Early conversations, at any age, are what make early detection possible.
Most people who get investigated for these symptoms won’t have cancer. But the only way to know is to say what you’ve noticed, clearly, and let your GP take it from there.
If something has felt off for more than two weeks, that’s not oversharing. That’s exactly what the appointment is for.
