Bowel cancer is the second highest cause of cancer death in New Zealand, with more than 1200 people dying each year, as many as breast and prostate cancer combined, says Bowel Cancer New Zealand.

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, so Kiwis are urged to learn the symptoms and take action this winter.

“We are losing far too many loved ones to this disease every year, and we shouldn’t be. Bowel cancer is curable in 90 per cent of cases if caught early enough. Early detection and prevention are key, and that’s why our focus this June is symptom awareness,” says Bowel Cancer New Zealand general manager Rebekah Heal.

The inspiration behind the Bowel Cancer Awareness Month campaign this year is Naomi Argyle, 45, a stage 4 bowel cancer patient given weeks to live.

Naomi wants to see people act on their symptoms and get checked. 

“I feel like I have to shout it from the rooftops, making noise so that if just one other person like me will go and get checked, and jump up and down if you have symptoms to get tests,” says Naomi.

This June, there will be symptom awareness posters in shopping mall bathrooms, street posters, on major billboards, and on the backs of buses nationwide.

Bowel Cancer NZ will also be at Fieldays and the upcoming General Practitioners Conference to help get the word out.

“Telling my girls was the worst thing I have ever done in my life... That’s what’s making me want to shout about this when I still can – to stop other families having to go through this,” says Naomi.

Bowel Cancer NZ has developed an online symptom checker, which 1,500 Kiwis utilised last year. The charity also has awareness resources available to download and order via their website.

“We hope Kiwis take action this June and help us make some noise for Naomi. Know the symptoms, get checked and help raise money for this important cause,” says Rebekah Heal.

Visit bowelcancernz.org.nz/awareness-month to:   

• Do the online symptom checker.    
• Host an awareness event.  
• Advocate for lowering the screening age and for new bowel cancer medicines.  
• Set up a fundraiser to help beat bowel cancer.     
• Donate to fund this vital mahi so fewer lives are lost to this silent killer.    

Bowel Cancer NZ is a nationwide, patient-focused charity dedicated to reducing the impact of bowel cancer in our communities through awareness, education, advocacy, research, and patient support.   

Bowel cancer symptoms include: 

• Bleeding from the bottom or seeing blood in the toilet after a bowel motion 
• Change of bowel motions over several weeks without returning to normal 
• Persistent or periodic severe pain in the abdomen 
• A lump or mass in the abdomen 
• Tiredness and loss of weight for no particular reason 
• Anaemia. 

About Bowel Cancer New Zealand 

• Bowel Cancer New Zealand is a patient-focused charity. 
• The registered charity was founded in 2010 by a group of people affected by bowel cancer, committed to improving bowel cancer awareness and outcomes for people with the disease. 
• Bowel Cancer New Zealand aims to provide clear and up-to-date information about the disease, symptoms, and what to do if diagnosed, as well as support patients and whānau affected by bowel cancer. 

More information on bowel cancer and Bowel Cancer New Zealand can be found at http://www.bowelcancernz.org.nz