Know the signs
You are never too young to take symptoms seriously
Bowel cancer in younger people is rising at an alarming rate. The risk of being diagnosed before 40 has more than doubled since 2000, and bowel cancer is now the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25–54.
More than 1,800 Australians under 50 are diagnosed each year.
Common signs
- 01Blood in the stool
- 02Abdominal pain
- 03Changes in bowel habits
- 04Unexplained weight loss
85% of people diagnosed with early-onset bowel cancer experience symptoms.
If something changes and doesn't feel normal for you, speak with your GP. Bowel Cancer Australia specifically urges younger people not to accept being told they are "too young" as an explanation for ongoing symptoms, and to ask about further investigation where appropriate.
Listen to your body. Know what's normal for you. And if something isn't right, follow it up.
Project 44 shares awareness information only and is not a source of medical advice. Always speak with a health professional about your own symptoms.