Never Too Young Report

The Never Too Young Report brings together the experiences of over 350 New Zealanders diagnosed with bowel cancer under the age of 50.

Their stories highlight an urgent need for earlier detection, fairer access to testing, and greater awareness among both the public and healthcare professionals.

More than 400 people took part in the survey, making it the largest of its kind ever undertaken in Aotearoa.

Together, their voices reveal the reality of early-onset bowel cancer – from missed symptoms and delayed diagnoses to the impact on families, careers, and mental health.

Bowel cancer is New Zealand’s second deadliest cancer – and it’s rising fastest in people under 50.

Yet younger adults remain excluded from the National Bowel Screening Programme, meaning most diagnoses occur only after symptoms appear.

The Never Too Young Report is based on the largest survey of its kind ever undertaken in Aotearoa.

More than 400 people took part in the survey, including over 350 New Zealanders diagnosed under the age of 50.

Their experiences offer a deeply human view of what it means to face this disease far too soon in life – highlighting barriers to early diagnosis, the emotional and financial toll, and the resilience of those determined to be heard.

The findings are clear: too many younger New Zealanders are being diagnosed late, after their concerns were dismissed or their symptoms misinterpreted.

Many describe months – sometimes years – of uncertainty before receiving answers.

For some, diagnosis came only after an emergency presentation or when the cancer had already advanced.

Behind every statistic is a person balancing treatment with work, parenting, and life – while navigating fear, exhaustion, and financial stress. Their voices remind us that bowel cancer doesn’t discriminate by age, and that awareness and early action save lives.

“If screening began at 45, one-third of those in this survey might have been diagnosed earlier – and lives could have been saved.”

Real change will only happen when bowel cancer is recognised for what it is – a growing threat to younger New Zealanders that can be caught early and treated successfully.

Bowel Cancer New Zealand is calling for urgent, evidence-based action to:

• Increase awareness of bowel cancer symptoms among both the public and health professionals.
• Lower the national screening age to 45, bringing New Zealand in line with other developed countries.
• Improve access to timely testing and colonoscopy for anyone with symptoms.
• Deepen understanding of Māori and Pasifika experiences to ensure care is equitable and culturally responsive.

By listening to the voices in this report, we can make earlier diagnosis the norm – not the exception.

The Never Too Young Report is both data-driven and deeply personal – a reflection of lived experience, systemic gaps, and a shared hope for change.

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