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.
Support for younger patients
Being diagnosed young can raise a lot of emotions.
So, we have online Facebook support groups, a nurse helpline, plus free physio and counselling sessions available for both bowel cancer patients and survivors.
Stories from young people
Many people have shared their stories to help raise awareness that you’re never too young to have bowel cancer, to encourage faster diagnosis, and to provide support to others.
Help us spread the word
Help us challenge perceptions and create a powerful voice for change by downloading our social tiles and sharing them on your social media platforms with your lived experience to campaign for change.
Double your donation by 21st of November
Rising demand for support from bowel cancer patients and increasing costs, mean we need you more than ever to keep our essential services going strong. Donate to help us continue our work.
You’re never too young to get your symptoms checked.
No one ever died of embarrassment, but you can die of bowel cancer.
If you have any concerns about your bowel habits, talk to your GP or healthcare professional straight away.
What are the symptoms?
Just diagnosed?
Is it genetic?
How can I reduce my risk?
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 amplified by COVID-19, 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
