Never too young campaign focus for Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and this year Bowel Cancer New Zealand (BCNZ) has a new, nationwide campaign to raise awareness that bowel cancer can strike at any age.

The Never Too Young campaign has been organised by BCNZ community ambassador Chelsea Halliwell in collaboration with Bowel Cancer New Zealand. A young bowel cancer survivor herself, Chelsea came up with the idea after she noticed an increasing number of young people joining the online Bowel Cancer New Zealand patient support group.

BCNZ general manager Rebekah Heal says, “We hope the Never Too Young campaign will drive home to people just how vital it is for everyone, of any age to know the symptoms of bowel cancer. These include bleeding from the bottom; a change of bowel habit; any lumps in the stomach; fatigue or tiredness; anemia and unexplained weight loss.”

“Bowel Cancer New Zealand has been encouraging people to not sit on their symptoms for years, but with the rising incidence of bowel cancer in young people, it’s now more important than ever that people don’t die of embarrassment, and go to their GPs immediately if they have concerns.”

Every year, more than 300 people under 50 are diagnosed with bowel cancer. This isn’t an insignificant number and the aim of the Never Too Young campaign is to reduce those dying needlessly, through awareness and education.

BCNZ community ambassador Chelsea Halliwell says, “If you have symptoms, taking action quickly is so important – it’s because of this that I’m here today. I’m so fortunate I didn’t delay in going to my GP - within a week, I had a stage three bowel cancer diagnosis, and my surgeon told me another six months would have made a real difference to my chances of survival.”

Bowel Cancer New Zealand is a national charity raising awareness of bowel cancer, supporting patients and education in the community. However, despite this cancer killing as many New Zealanders as both breast and prostate cancer combined, it is critically under-funded and under-resourced compared to other cancer charities.

June’s Bowel Cancer Awareness month is an important time to highlight the impact of this disease on the community, and also to raise essential funds.

BCNZ encourages open discussion about bowel cancer with medical professionals and avoiding ‘sitting on your symptoms’. Symptoms include:
• Bleeding from the bottom or seeing blood in the toilet after a bowel motion;
• Change of bowel motions over several weeks that can come and go;
• Persistent or periodic severe pain the abdomen;
• A lump or mass in the abdomen;
• Tiredness and loss of weight for no particular reason;
• Anaemia.
Anyone who has symptoms or a family history of bowel cancer should see their GP immediately. Those that don’t live in current DHB screening areas and want to do regular checks can talk to their GP or buy a commercially available bowel screening kit at participating Life or Unichem pharmacies.

More information on bowel cancer and Bowel Cancer Awareness Month can be found at http://www.beatbowelcancer.org.nz or on the Never Too Young campaign at www.nevertooyoung.org.nz.