Symptoms

Most people with large bowel or rectal neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) don’t have symptoms. Doctors often diagnose them when doing tests for something else.

When you do have symptoms, they are usually caused by the growth of the cancer. Or by the NET spreading to other parts of the body. You can also have symptoms caused by the hormones made by the tumour but this is rare. 

Most large bowel or rectal NETs do not make hormones. Or make hormones that do not cause specific symptoms (a syndrome). These tumours are called non functioning tumours.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually develop slowly over some years. Symptoms might include:

A change in your normal bowel habit

You might have a change in your bowel habit that is not caused by changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Bowel problems are very common and they are usually not related to cancer. But it’s important to tell your doctor if you have a lasting change in your normal bowel habits.

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea means having more than 3 watery poos (stools) in a 24 hour period. You might also have diarrhoea at night and problems controlling your bowels (incontinence).

Pain in the tummy and back passage

You might have pain that comes and goes. Some people have pain for several years before a diagnosis of a neuroendocrine tumour.

Bleeding

You might have bleeding from your bowel or rectum (back passage). You may not be able to see any blood if it is a small amount. Or you may see some blood in your poo. Over time, bleeding reduces the number of red blood cells in your body (anaemia).

Most often, blood in the stool is from piles (haemorrhoids), especially if it is bright red, fresh blood.

Weight loss

You might lose weight even if you haven't changed your diet.

Blockage in the bowel

Sometimes the cancer can block the bowel (bowel obstruction). Symptoms of bowel obstruction include:

• griping pain in the tummy
• feeling bloated
• constipation and being unable to pass wind
• feeling sick

Symptoms caused by hormones

It’s rare for large bowel and rectal NETs to make hormones that go into the bloodstream. Doctors call these functioning tumours. These hormones can cause symptoms that don’t seem related to the cancer. This is called carcinoid syndrome.

Symptoms of carcinoid syndrome include:

• flushing of the skin
• diarrhoea
• wheezing
• fast heartbeat

When to see your doctor

What happens next?

We have information on seeing your GP and the tests you might have.