Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, can affect any part of the colon or rectum; it may also be referred to as colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where the cancer is located.
Bowel cancer screening is for people who do not already have bowel cancer, symptoms of bowel cancer, or any reason to have a high risk of bowel cancer.
Patient-centred care is healthcare that is respectful of, and responsive to, the preferences, needs and values of patients and consumers.
Bowel Cancer Australia provides essential support services uniquely designed for bowel cancer patients via our confidential Helpline with specialist telehealth support, as well as a national Peer-to-Peer Support Network and Buddy Program.
Bowel Cancer Australia funds research that has the potential to improve survival and/or help build a path toward a cure and integrates published research into our awareness, advocacy, and support strategies.
Bowel Cancer Australia relies upon donations and the support of hard working and enthusiastic fundraisers across the country to continue our life saving work. We raise funds to continue our life-saving work and inspire others to do the same, so everyone affected by bowel cancer can live their best life.
Each year people living with or beyond early-onset bowel cancer from across the country descend on Australian Parliament House for Bowel Cancer Australia’s pre-eminent advocacy event – Call on Canberra.
Advocates attend meetings with MPs and Senators, sharing their lived experience and raising awareness of the critical policy priorities needed to improve health outcomes.
We have already made significant inroads as we know that a shared voice and purpose is a powerful tool.
Through Call on Canberra: Action on Early-onset Bowel Cancer our collective voices and lived experiences have lead the way to engage decision makers, and ultimately secure commitments to act on behalf of the over 1,700 Australians diagnosed with early-onset bowel cancer each year.
The energy is palpable, and the direct impact of our advocacy efforts speak for themselves.
Collectively we continue to advocate for greater awareness (especially among GPs), rapid referrals, implementing a lower screening start age, improved pathways, as well as further research to help build a path towards a cure.
Bowel Cancer Australia continues to put early-onset bowel cancer on the national agenda and is calling for action to improve awareness, diagnosis, treatment and care pathways for younger people.
Each year Bowel Cancer Australia invites 50 passionate Advocates to attend Call On Canberra to share their empowering story and help amplify the charity’s policy priorities with their local MPs and Senators.
Call on Canberra connects young people living with or beyond early-onset bowel cancer, building communities through shared experiences and creating a powerful voice for change.
We asked past attendees to share their thoughts in answer to the question – ‘Why was attending Call On Canberra and advocating for policy change important to you?’ Here is what they said…
“I cannot change my story, but I hope that by sharing it with people who have the power to enact change, it may mean others, including my children, don’t have to go through what I’ve been through.” ~ Nina, D (South Australia)
“My story was actually a positive one. I was lucky enough that my doctors thought about it and referred me for a colonoscopy. So, I feel like sharing my side shows that early detection and diagnosis actually does make a difference.” ~ James, B (New South Wales)
“Being diagnosed with bowel cancer as a 21-year-old in 2012 changed the trajectory of my life and attending Call on Canberra was an opportunity to help our nation’s leaders better understand the urgency surrounding the massive increase in bowel cancer rates in younger Australians. More funding for research, better pathways for timely diagnosis and treatment options matter. Speaking to politicians face-to-face about what they could do to help save future lives meant a lot to me and was a way to honour the wonderful friends I’ve made in the bowel cancer community who are no longer with us. I’m deeply proud to have attended the first years of Call on Canberra and the collective achievements of all the advocates and Bowel Cancer Australia.” ~ Stephanie, N (Queensland)
“Attending Call on Canberra was important to me as it gave me an opportunity to share my own story. Raising awareness about early-onset bowel cancer is something I feel strongly about – I am lucky to be a Stage 4 survivor, but so many others, including my Sister-in-Law, have early symptoms dismissed, reducing their chances of remission and survival”. ~ Jess, H (Victoria)
“Participating in advocacy provided a vital outlet, allowing me to reshape my own adversity into lasting, positive change for the bowel cancer community. Through this work, I also found a deep sense of peer support, connecting with others who shared my experience and building lifelong friendships.” ~ Sarah, C (Queensland)