Your GP may feel your abdomen to see if there are any swellings.

They may then carry out an internal examination. For this, the doctor will place a gloved finger inside your back passage, to feel for anything unusual.

They may also take a sample of your blood, to be tested in a laboratory. This is to see whether you have anaemia.

Your GP may decide to send you to see a specialist at your local hospital. There are NHS cancer referral guidelines to help GPs decide who needs to see a specialist, and how quickly.

At the hospital you are likely to have one or more diagnostic tests.