Thank you for helping us to beat bowel cancer

Bowel Cancer Australia would like to gratefully acknowledge the many individuals and organisations who got involved in big and small ways this June.

Although Bowel Cancer Awareness Month looked a little bit different this year, it was terrific to see so many people embracing the new online and virtual options to raise much-needed funds and awareness for Australia’s second deadliest cancer.

With over 325 new cases and 108 deaths estimated weekly, during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month Australian’s were reminded that despite the NEW NORMAL, some things remain NOT NORMAL.

Kristian’s bowel cancer journey started on his 29th birthday, 21 August 2019, with a visit to the emergency room for lower abdominal pain due to a perforated bowel.
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“My recovery was quite good, until my day of discharge. It was in that exact moment my life changed in a blink of an eye. I was classed as having Stage 4 bowel cancer,” says Kristian.

“It hit my family and I like a tonne of bricks, but there was no time to dwell - I had to start chemotherapy as soon as possible,” Kristian adds.

Held in the final week of June, our annual Never2Young Awareness Week campaign highlighted that although bowel cancer rates have been declining among adults over 50, incidence continues to rise in those under 50.

Never2Young Champions across the country shared their stories and photographs to help raise awareness that you’re never too young to have bowel cancer, using the ‘My Age Was Not A Factor’ tagline.

Thank you all for helping to make real change happen!

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It is about raising funds for people affected by cancer

A Stage 4 bowel cancer diagnosis at the age of 32 was the last thing Courtney expected.

“I was starting a new career, enjoying an active social life, dating and on a path to a positive fulfilling life. I had no significant symptoms, an overly vigilant doctor (*guardian angel) and the biggest shock of my life coming out of that colonoscopy,” says Courtney.

“My life has changed immeasurably, and this disease is complex but I’m alive and I’m so grateful,” Courtney adds.

Diana’s sister Sarah was 34 and a new mum when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer, and 35 when it took her life.

“Sarah experienced three weeks of stomach pains before she was given a terminal diagnosis. Sadly, her story is not unique. Everyone thinks that it won’t happen to them until it does,” says Diana.

Courtney and Diana were both members of Bowel Cancer Australia’s inaugural Dry July team, assisting in raising over $20,000 to help the charity support people affected by bowel cancer.

Big thanks and congratulations to everyone who fundraised, donated and participated in the challenge this July.

Latest report card reveals low participation and lagging wait times

We know when bowel cancer is detected in the earliest stages, almost 99 percent of cases can be successfully treated, but the opportunity for early detection is lost if a positive test is not followed-up by prompt colonoscopy.

The latest National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) Report reveals participation rates continue to hover at 42.4% and colonoscopy wait times for those who receive a positive screen vary between 111 and 228 days depending on where participants lived.

Improvements in some wait-times which have taken years to achieve may have been wiped out during a few weeks when elective surgery had to be cancelled due to COVID-19.

Unfortunately, we will not know the full impact on colonoscopy wait times for years as data in the report lags real-time and is typically released two years later.