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The life-time risk of a bowel cancer diagnosis is 1 in 16 persons.

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Bowel cancer is the fourth most common type of newly diagnosed cancer and second deadliest in Australia.

Map of Australia with the text
14904
Australians are told they have bowel cancer each year
5372
lives lost to bowel cancer each year
99 %
of cases can be treated successfully when detected in the earliest stage
163000
Australians living with or beyond bowel cancer.

Bowel cancer is the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25-54.

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1884
people under age of 50 are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year (11.7% of all bowel cancer cases).
342
people under age 50 die from bowel cancer each year (5.8% of all bowel cancer deaths).
51.7 %
of early-onset bowel cancer cases are diagnosed in women.
48.3 %
of early-onset bowel cancer cases are diagnosed in men.
85 %
of people diagnosed with early-onset bowel cancer experience symptoms.

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Bowel cancer in women

Bowel cancer is the second most common type of newly diagnosed cancer and third deadliest cancer in women.

A smiling woman in a striped shirt with an ostomy bag, promoting empowerment for women, with Bowel Cancer Australia logo.
6974
women are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, including 974 (13.9%) under age 50.
2540
women die from bowel cancer each year, including 168 (6.6%) under age 50.
46.8 %
of all Australians diagnosed with bowel cancer are women of all ages.

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Bowel cancer in men

Bowel cancer is the third most common type of newly diagnosed cancer and third deadliest cancer in men.

A man with a beard stands shirtless, holding a bottle, with medical supplies visible on his body. Text promotes bowel cancer awareness.
7930
men are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, including 910 (11.5%) under age 50.
2832
men die from bowel cancer each year, including 174 (6.1%) under age 50.
53.2 %
of all Australians diagnosed with bowel cancer are men of all ages.