Facts

Bowel cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death in 25 to 34 year old’s.

The incidence of young-onset bowel cancer is on the rise. There has been a 186% increase over the past three decades in 15 to 24 year old’s.

For those aged under 50 years, there is no screening program to detect early-onset bowel cancer, and once a young person is symptomatic they are more likely to have the advanced stage or metastatic disease.

1 in 3 patients diagnosed with bowel cancer under the age of 50 years, live less than 5 years from their diagnosis, and if diagnosed with the metastatic (Stage 4) disease, 90% don’t survive 5 years.

Public and clinical awareness is needed. A UK Survey in 2015 about young-onset bowel cancer found one third of young people delayed making appointments with their GP to discuss their symptoms for at least 3 months, and 4 in 10 people saw their GP 3 or more times about their symptoms before being referred for tests.

#never2young (Australia)

#nevertooyoung (UK)