National Bowel Cancer Day Start › News < back 30 Sep 2022 September 30th marks National Bowel Cancer Day. Unfortunately, every year, with more than 1.4 million new cases, this type of cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In Portugal, according to the General Directorate of Health, there are around 80 thousand active cases in total, with 24 new cases daily. The disease arises due to the disorganized multiplication of cells forming a protrusion in the intestinal tissue called a polyp, which if left untreated can lead to cancer, also affecting other organs of the digestive system, such as: malignant neoplasms of the colon and rectum. , stomach, pancreas, liver and esophagus. People with this disease have specific symptoms, such as: - Abdominal pain and discomfort; - Sudden weight loss; - Constipation; - Tiredness. Unfortunately, in most cases this disease is silent, causing symptoms only in advanced stages. For this reason, screening and early diagnosis are essential for appropriate treatment in a timely manner for a greater percentage of cure and increased survival rate.