Bowel Cancer Facts/
- Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world
- Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in Australia, after lung cancer
- This year an estimated 15,500 people will be diagnosed with bowel cancer
- Bowel cancer is the leading cancer killer in people aged 25 – 34
- Every 2 hours, bowel cancer claims a life. That’s around 100 people every week or over 5,300 each year
- Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer after prostate cancer for men, and breast cancer for women
- Detected early, 99% of bowel cancers can be successfully treated or even prevented
- Fewer than 40% of bowel cancers are detected at an early stage when the likelihood of remaining cancer free is high. Bowel cancers diagnosed at a late-stage (stage 4) can be treated, but the likelihood of remaining cancer free for the five years following successful treatment is significantly lower at 13%