The Facts
- 6,974 women are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, including 974 under age 50.
- 46.8% of people diagnosed with bowel cancer are female.
- 2,540 women die from bowel cancer each year.
- In 2024, bowel cancer was estimated to be the deadliest cancer in Australian women under 50
- 51.7% of early-onset (age under 50) bowel cancer cases are diagnosed in women.
- You are never too young for bowel cancer. Australian research found younger people may spend between 3 months and 5 years seeing multiple doctors before diagnosis.
- The risk of diagnosis before the age of 40 has more than doubled since the year 2000.
- Early-onset bowel cancer strikes in the most active years of life, causing interruptions in education, work, and family building, as well as significant psychosocial challenges and long-term financial hardship.
- Possible bowel cancer signs in women can often be dismissed as being associated with:
- Pregnancy/recent childbirth
- Endometriosis/Menstruation
- Peri-menopause/Menopause
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of bowel cancer can include:
Blood in your poo;
Obvious change in your bowel habit
Weight loss you can't explain
Extreme tiredness for no reason
Lump or swelling in your abdomen
June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month – Bowel Cancer Australia's signature event to raise awareness of Australia's second deadliest cancer and funds for the leading community-funded charity dedicated to Championing what matters most to people impacted by bowel cancer and empowering everyone affected to live their best life.
About us:
About Bowel Cancer Australia
Bowel Cancer Australia is a national charity dedicated to championing what matters most to people impacted by bowel cancer and empowering everyone affected to live their best life.
