A doctor has urged people to "make an urgent appointment" if they spot three symptoms on the toilet. The advice comes as research shows rates of a certain cancer are rapidly increasing among young people.

In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, Doctor Sermed Mezher explained more about bowel cancer. Also known as colorectal cancer, this disease can affect the rectum or colon.

According to Cancer Research UK, there are around 48,000 new bowel cancer cases in the UK every year. This makes it the fourth most common type of cancer in the UK.

And in recent years, the rising rates of bowel cancer among young people has sparked concern among the medical community.

One report, published in The Lancet, showed that the disease is rising more rapidly among young people than other age groups, with 20% of diagnoses in 2019 in patients under age 55, about double the rate in 1995.

In his video, Dr Mezher first shared a clip from an NBC News segment, which said: "A new study says the rate of rectal cancer is increasing more than two to three times compared to colon cancer.

"If the trend continues, rectal cancer deaths will exceed the number of colon cancer deaths in people under age 50 by 2035." He then noted: "Colon and rectal cancers are not just diseases of older people.

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"So what should you be looking out for? I'm Dr Sermed Mezher. Let's look at the facts."

He continued: "You may have heard a doctor say at some point, 'You're too young to have cancer', and it is true that most cancer cases will be in older adults over 65, but it is also increasing in younger people and it's uncertain why."

Dr Mezher urged people to be aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer. He said: "It's important people know about these changes because recognising the signs can lead to an early diagnosis.

"And when colorectal cancer is in early-stage disease, the five-year survival rate is high at 95 per cent." He highlighted three symptoms that can appear on the toilet:

• Persistent blood in stool


• Changes in bowel habit


• A feeling that your bowels haven't emptied

However, he also said that unexplained weight loss and unexplained bloating can be signs. He said: "If you have these symptoms make an urgent appointment to see your doctor. And anyone who's eligible for bowel screening, do attend, as many people who get diagnosed with bowel cancer were eligible for screening and didn't and then regretted it later."

The NHS lists symptoms of bowel cancer as:

• Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you


• Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you


• Blood in your poo, which may look red or black


• Bleeding from your bottom


• Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you've just been to the toilet


• Tummy pain


• A lump in your tummy


• Bloating


• Losing weight without trying


• Feeling very tired for no reason

You should see your GP if you have any symptoms of bowel cancer for three weeks or more.