In the UK, bowel cancer is the fourth most typical type of the illness and second most threatening, accounting for nearly 17,000 deaths a yr.

Also often known as colorectal most cancers, it refers to cancer that begins within the giant bowel - the colon - or the rectum.

Therefore, the illness may also be distinguished as colon or rectal most cancers relying on the place it begins.

Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie was identified with colon most cancers in October 2013.

As a results of his analysis the band cancelled the remaining dates of their world tour that yr so he might endure remedy.

At the time a press release from fellow band members Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham stated: "We hope our Australian and New Zealand fans as well as Fleetwood Mac fans everywhere will join us in wishing John and his family all the best."

Luckily his situation improved with remedy permitting McVie, now 77, to play with the band the next yr.

And in 2017 it was reported that the illness was in remission.

However, extra just lately his bandmate and ex-wife Christine advised the BBC he was unlikely to tour once more.

In 2021 she stated: “[John] is feeling a little bit frail. You know he was ill. He’s fine, but he just hasn’t got the heart for it any more.

“He wants to get on his boat. You reach a certain age where you go: ‘Hey, I’m not going to bust a gut doing this anymore.’”

Symptoms of bowel most cancers

The most typical indicators of bowel most cancers are a change in your rest room habits.

Cancer Research UK says: “Symptoms of bowel cancer can include a change in your normal bowel habit or blood in your poo.

“They can also be symptoms for other conditions, but it’s important to see your doctor.”

Signs of the illness that you'd discover on the bathroom embrace:

• Bleeding from the again passage (rectum) or blood in your poo
• A change in your regular bowel behavior, reminiscent of looser poo, pooing extra typically or constipation
• A sense of needing to pressure in your again passage (as if you could poo), even after opening your bowels.

However, there are different signs together with:

• A lump that your physician can really feel in your again passage or tummy (stomach), extra generally on the proper facet
• Losing weight
• Pain in your stomach or again passage
• Tiredness and breathlessness brought on by a decrease than regular stage of purple blood cells (anaemia).

In some circumstances the most cancers may cause a bowel obstruction.

If this occurs you can expertise:

• Cramping pains within the stomach
• Feeling bloated
• Constipation and being unable to go wind
• Being sick.

This is a medical emergency.

“You should see your doctor quickly or go to A&E at your nearest hospital if you think you have a bowel obstruction,” Cancer Research UK says.

If you expertise any signs of bowel most cancers it is best to see your GP as quickly as potential.