Bowel Cancer Awareness Month 2026.

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, after breast, prostate and lung cancers.

Nearly 44,000 people are diagnosed in the UK every year and the disease sadly claims more than 16,800 lives annually.

Traditionally, bowel cancer is more common in those over 50, however, numbers are increasing in the younger population too. Bowel cancer is often treatable and curable but early diagnosis is key and it can be lifesaving. Unfortunately, survival rates drop significantly as the disease progresses.

During April, Bowel Cancer UK are offering free online awareness talks covering information such as the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and the NHS bowel screening programme.

In England & Wales, adults between the ages of 50 – 74 will be invited to take part in bowel screening every two years. This is a simple home test that detects the presence of blood in poo. It is worth noting that a positive test does not equal a bowel cancer diagnosis, but it is important to find out what is the cause of the bleeding and it is likely that you will be offered further investigations such as a colonoscopy.

Knowing the symptoms of bowel cancer is important to help spot bowel cancer early. Whilst it is more common in those over 50, it can affect anyone and everyone should be familiar with the symptoms which include:

• Bleeding from your bottom and/or blood in your poo;
• A change in your bowel habits;
• Losing weight without a reason;
• Feeling tired all the time;
• A pain or lump in your tummy.

Whilst these symptoms can be common and can often be nothing to worry about, if you are experiencing them it is vital to seek the advice of your GP who can refer you on for further investigations.

Treatment for bowel cancer varies depending on multiple factors, including the size and location of the tumour as well as your age and general health. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with bowel cancer, there are a lot of support resources available online. Please visit https://www.macmillan.org.uk/, https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/ and https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/ for more information.

At Lanyon Bowdler, we represent families who may have been affected by a delay in diagnosis and treatment of bowel cancer. Should you wish to consider bringing a potential claim, please do not hesitate to reach out to a member of the team who will be happy to discuss your enquiry in detail.