New Delhi, May 18 -- With today's fast-paced lifestyle, digestive issues like bloating, acid reflux, stomach cramps and constipation are often neglected due to stress, unhealthy eating habits, fatigue and junk food consumption. Most people rely on over-the-counter remedies or home treatments, assuming the symptoms are temporary. But doctors are now sounding the alarm that persistent gastrointestinal issues can sometimes indicate something more serious: bowel cancer.

Specialists say one of the biggest hurdles in treatment is that bowel cancer is often diagnosed late, even as cases continue to rise among younger adults. Patients usually consult doctors only when the disease has reached an advanced stage, as early symptoms are often mistake...