Would YOU spot these symptoms of the UK’s second biggest cancer killer?

BOWEL cancer awareness month begins today, and health experts are urging Brits to be vigilant in recognising the symptoms of the deadly disease.

Every 15 seconds, one Brit is delivered the life-altering diagnosis that they have bowel cancer.

In the UK, the deadly disease claims the lives of more than 40 people each day.

While the survival rate of this form of cancer is higher than others, bowel cancer shares symptoms with many other common health ailments and thus can be easy to miss.

Alarmingly, the deadly disease is often mistaken for piles, a common health ailment.

Charity Beating Bowel Cancer and health site HealthExpress.co.uk want to raise awareness of the risk factors, early warning signs, preventative measures and treatment options for bowel cancer to ensure this does not happen.

Health experts advise discomfort when passing stools, itchy red lumps and spotting or bleeding from the back passage are common signs of haemorrhoids, which are also known as piles.

Symptoms of bowel cancer include bleeding from the bottom and blood in stools, unexplained weight loss and abdominal pain.

A persistent change in bowel habits including constipation and diarrhoea and unexplained tiredness, dizziness or breathlessness can also be a warning sign of the deadly disease.

Regular exercise and dietary monitoring, along with minimal alcohol consumption can help prevent both bowel cancer and piles.

Smokers also place themselves in greater risk for both health threats.

While the symptoms of piles and bowel cancer have some similarities, bowel cancer can develop whether you have piles or not.

Experts urge that you seek advice from your GP if the symptoms get worse or your body does not respond to the treatment prescribed.