30/06/2025
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in NZ. Also known as colorectal or colon cancer, it affects the colon (large bowel) and re**um, and men are more affected than women.
⚠ It can develop without any warning signs, but 90% of cases can be treated successfully if caught early.
Watch for symptoms like:
- Bleeding from the bottom
- Ongoing changes in bowel habits
- Persistent tummy pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Feeling unusually tired or weak
Anyone with symptoms, no matter their age, should see a GP. You may also need earlier or more regular testing if you have a family history of bowel cancer.
Free bowel screening is available in NZ every two years for those aged 60–74. If you're Māori or Pacific, you’ll be invited to screen from age 50.
📬 It’s a simple test sent to your home that checks for early signs of cancer, before symptoms appear.
Learn more here:
A bowel screening test is for people who do not have any obvious symptoms of the disease. Discover more here: