Bowel Cancer

Bowel Cancer

Bowel cancer screening can save your life. When it's detected early, non-native ten cases can be treated successfully. The chance of getting bowel cancer increases with age. That's why Australians aged between 45 and 74 can screen with a free national bowel cancer screening program every two years. You'll receive an envelope in the mail that will include everything you need to do the test, including your participant details. The test is looking for invisible traces of blood in your poo, which could be a sign of cancer or a pre-cancerous growth.

What is bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, develops from the inner lining of the bowel and is usually preceded by growths called polyps, which may become invasive cancer if undetected. Depending on where the cancer begins, bowel cancer may be called colon or rectal cancer. It is estimated that more than 15,300 people were diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2023. The average age at diagnosis is 69 years old. Bowel cancer is the fourth most diagnosed cancer in Australia, and it is estimated that one in 20 people will be diagnosed by the time they are 85. About 90 per cent of bowel cancers are adenocarcinomas, which start in the glandular tissues lining the bowel. Other less common types of cancer can also affect the bowel, including lymphomas and neuroendocrine tumours (https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer).

Symptoms of bowel cancer include:

-Change in bowel habit including diarrhoea, constipation; blood in the stools or

a change in bowel movements such as thin bowel stools, incomplete emptying.

- Abdominal pain, bloating or cramping, anal or rectal pain, a lump in the anus or rectum; weight loss; unexplained fatigue, tiredness and/or anaemia; blood in the urine or passing urine frequently or during the night, rusty or brown urine.

To learn more, visit bowelcancer.org.au

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