Feeling as stuffed as a turkey on Christmas Day has become an accidental festive tradition for many.
But for some, tummy troubles may not just be due to overeating.
The cause, experts warn, could in fact be a form of cancer that kills almost 17,000 Britons every year – with numbers rising into the under-50s.
According to the latest international data, this increase in bowel cancer is affecting Britain more dramatically than most other western countries, including the US.
Now a health expert has warned of the five warning signs that could pop up at Christmas dinner, suggesting Brits may be suffering from more sinister gut health problems.
And perhaps the most surprising thing is that you feel full more quickly than usual.
Kiran Jones, a clinical pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy, warned of a feeling of painful fullness that ‘does not subside after digestion’. or wakes you up at night’.
This could be a sign of an obstruction or tumor in the intestine, he added.
Feeling as stuffed as a turkey on Christmas Day has become an accidental festive tradition for many. But for some, tummy troubles may not just be due to overeating
Bowel cancer can cause you to have blood in your poop, a change in bowel habits, or a lump in your intestine that can cause blockages. Some people also suffer from weight loss as a result of these symptoms
‘If there is a blockage or tumor in the intestine, a constant feeling of fullness can occur.
“If it lasts more than a few days, it could indicate gut health problems, or worse, colon cancer,” he said.
‘While it’s tempting to write this off as eating a heavy Christmas meal, you should monitor symptoms closely, especially if they linger or worsen.’
However, other symptoms are more commonly associated with the disease.
Mr Jones added: ‘Christmas is a busy time of year, and it’s expected to feel tired after preparing the turkey or managing a house full of guests.
‘But if you’re finding it harder than usual to stay awake or struggling with persistent fatigue that isn’t relieved by rest, it could be a sign that your body is trying to tell you something more serious.
‘Colon cancer can cause anemia because blood loss in the intestine reduces the number of red blood cells in your body, leading to exhaustion.’
Noticing blood in your stool – clear or dark red – is another known sign of the condition.
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He added: ‘Although haemorrhoids or small tears from exercise can cause this, persistent bleeding is a major warning sign of bowel cancer.
‘Don’t dismiss this Christmas symptom as a one-off caused by excessive eating or alcohol consumption, but make an appointment with your GP.’
Eating too much at Christmas can also lead to more frequent trips to the toilet, especially after a rich meal full of fatty and sugary foods.
However, if you have to go to the toilet more often than usual and this is not just the result of overeating, this could be a red flag.
‘Pay attention to any changes in your bowel habits, such as persistent diarrhea or constipation, or an urgent need to go,’ Mr Jones said.
‘If these symptoms persist long after the feast, it may be time to seek medical advice as these could be early indicators of bowel cancer.’
According to the NHS, anyone experiencing these symptoms for three weeks or more is advised to speak to their GP.
Symptoms of bowel cancer can also be caused by other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, but it is important to get this checked so that the disease can be caught as early as possible.
Dame Deborah James, nicknamed the ‘gut babe’, has raised more than £11.3 million for cancer research and is credited with raising awareness of the disease, which took her life in 2022 at the age of 40.
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It’s coming as experts continue to warn of a worrying rise in cases of bowel cancer under the age of 50, which has baffled doctors around the world.
The disease, the third most common cancer in Britain, is the same type that killed Dame Deborah James at age 40 in 2022.
There are more than 44,000 new diagnoses of bowel cancer in the UK every year, and almost 142,000 in the US.
While the cause of the rise in bowel cancer in young people is still being investigated, experts estimate that more than half of the cases diagnosed each year in Britain are preventable due to known cancer risk factors.
A shocking one in four of the preventable cases are caused by Brits eating too little fiber – found in fruit, vegetables and whole grains – which is known to be a key factor in good digestion.
About one in ten cases is caused by eating processed meat, while a similar number is caused by overweight or obese people.
Research shows that the risk of developing colon cancer increases by 18 percent if people consume more than 50 grams of processed meat (one sausage) per day.
About one in twenty cases is caused by alcohol consumption, smoking and lack of exercise.
Research shows that drinking just one pint of low-strength beer a day, around two units, could increase your risk of bowel cancer by 4 percent, with the risk increasing with higher alcohol consumption.
It is believed that approximately one in fifty cases of colon cancer is caused by exposure to radiation, for example radiotherapy.
It is believed that a fifth of bowel cancer cases have their origins in a genetic risk.
Symptoms of colon cancer include changes in your bowel habits, such as new diarrhea or constipation, having to poo or feel the urge more or less often, and blood in the stool.
Stomach pain, a lump in the stomach, bloating, unexpected weight loss and fatigue are some of the main symptoms.
According to the NHS, anyone experiencing these symptoms for three weeks or more is advised to speak to their GP.