Anyone can get bowel cancer, at any age.
Every year, over 3,300 Kiwis are diagnosed with this silent killer, including around 350 people under the age of 50. If you’re worried, you’re never too young to get checked for early-onset bowel cancer.
Were you diagnosed under 50? Take our online survey today.
Your voice, experience, and story matter. We want to learn more about how younger people are diagnosed and what that looks like in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Do our online survey, which takes about 10-20 minutes.
Check your symptoms - you're never too young
The incidence of bowel cancer in those aged under 50 has risen by 26% per decade on average over the past twenty years. So act quickly if you have symptoms and see your GP. If you feel unheard, seek a second opinion. Check your symptoms here.
Help us advocate to lower the screening age
We want the government to ACT NOW and save lives! Do what they promised and lower the bowel screening age – while they delay, Kiwis are dying. Download our advocacy letter and send it to your local MPs, PM and Health Minister.
Raise awareness and help spread the word
Help us challenge perceptions and raise awareness by downloading our social tiles and sharing them on your social media platforms with your lived experience.
You’re never too young to be diagnosed with bowel cancer.
If you have any concerns about your bowel habits, talk to your GP or healthcare professional straight away. And if you are going through treatment or have recently finished, we have support available.
Just diagnosed?
We're here for you
Being diagnosed young can come as a shock. So, we have online support groups, a nurse helpline, financial assistance, plus free physio and counselling sessions for both bowel cancer patients and survivors.
Is it genetic?
How can I reduce my risk?
Recent Survey Statistics
45% of patients and survivor respondents were not aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer before they were diagnosed.
33% of patients waited more than 5 months before seeing a doctor, thinking the symptoms would go away and weren’t serious.
65% of young patients reported experiencing anxiety and/or depression during or after their treatment.
90% of patients were working or studying full-time, and 73% had school-age children when they were diagnosed.
36% of young patients saw 3 or more doctors before a referral was sent for further investigations.
87% of young patients who had a stoma felt it affected their intimate relationships, with 73% indicating it affected their body image.
76% of young patients expressed a fear of recurrence (the cancer coming back), and 64% suffered emotional exhaustion.
66% of young patients were diagnosed with stage 3 or 4 bowel cancer. Nearly 40% of respondents weren’t aware of what stage they were.
31% of young patients reported having 3 or more symptoms of bowel cancer before being diagnosed.
What are we calling for?
Improved awareness in the general public and for medical professionals on the symptoms of bowel cancer, and that it can affect people under the age of 50.
Younger people going to their GP with symptoms of cancer should be referred for further tests without unnecessary delays.
Younger patients with bowel cancer should have treatment, care and support tailored to their needs.
Challenges in the healthcare system, such as endoscopy capacity, must be addressed urgently to prevent further barriers to diagnosis for younger people.
Our thanks to
Chelsea Halliwell and Tania Biddles from Q Brand Agency, who were the founders of the Never Too Young campaign.
IN SPECIAL MEMORY OF BRITT, ANARU, FIONA AND SOLON
…four brave, young people who appeared in our ‘Never too Young’ campaign, and have sadly passed away since then. They wanted us to continue to raise awareness, so that other young Kiwis have a chance to beat bowel cancer.
Personal stories: too many, too young.
Read the stories of some of the many Kiwis whose lives have been affected by bowel cancer. No matter what their age, we believe they were all too young.
#nevertooyoung #getchecked #beatbowelcancer
