Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and COUCH is here to raise awareness and encourage screening and prevention! Bowel cancer has the second highest mortality rate of all cancers and claims the lives of approximately 101 Australians every week. Despite this, bowel cancer is also one of the MOST treatable cancers if detected early. In Australia approximately 15,542 people were diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2024, with the average age at diagnosis being around 69 years.

Several risk factors have been associated with an increased likelihood of developing bowel cancer, including:

• A diet low in dietary fibre
• High intake of red meat, particularly processed meats
• Being overweight or obese
• Regular alcohol consumption
• Tobacco use
• A personal or family history of bowel cancer or inherited genetic syndromes
• Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• The presence of adenomatous polyps
• A previous diagnosis of bowel cancer

Clinical symptoms indicative of bowel cancer may include:

• Altered bowel habits, such as diarrhoea, constipation, or a sensation of incomplete evacuation
• Changes in stool appearance or consistency, including narrow or ribbon-like stools
• Presence of blood in the stool
• Abdominal discomfort, bloating, or cramping
• Pain in the anal or rectum
• Palpable mass in the anal or rectal area
• Unintentional weight loss
• Persistent, unexplained fatigue
• Symptoms of anaemia, such as pallor, weakness, and shortness of breath
• Haematuria (blood in the urine), increased urinary frequency, nocturia, or dark/discoloured urine (rusty or brown in appearance)

If you have any of the above symptoms please visit you health care provider as soon as possible to discuss whether further investigations are necessary.

If found early, more than 90% of cases can be successfully treated.The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) offers a free, simple at-home test that looks for tiny, hidden traces of blood in the stool—an early sign of bowel cancer, which often develops without noticeable symptoms. If detected early, over 90% of bowel cancers can be successfully treated. The program targets Australians aged 45 to 74, with kits automatically mailed every two years to those aged 50 to 74, and available on request for those aged 45 to 49. The test, known as the immunochemical faecal occult blood test (iFOBT), involves collecting two small stool samples and sending them to a lab. The National Cancer Screening Register supports the program by managing reminders and data collection to improve outcomes and inform public health policy. To learn more about the NBCSP or to request your new or replacement kit please follow this link - https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-bowel-cancer-screening-program

For further information about bowel cancer screening, prevention, diagnosis, treatment or additional support during or after bowel cancer treatment please contact us on 07 4032 0820 or email admin@couch.org.au