Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
April 2026
Bowel (Colon) Cancer Awareness Month takes place every April.
At Guts UK charity, we raise vital awareness for bowel cancer. To make much-needed noise for our underfunded and under-appreciated guts. We also provide accredited bowel cancer information and fund vital research into bowel cancer treatments.
Read on to discover how you can spot the signs and empower people to seek help sooner. Together, we’re getting to grips with digestive conditions such as bowel cancer.
What is bowel cancer?
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. If detected early, the cure rate exceeds 90%.
Our bowel lining undergoes continuous renewal. It has millions of tiny cells that grow, do what they need to do, and then die. Each cell has genes that control how it behaves, but sometimes, gene faults make cells grow too fast. This can lead to growths called polyps. Most polyps are harmless. However, about 1 in 10 can turn into cancer. Taking out benign (non-cancerous) polyps can help stop cancer from developing later on.
What are the usual symptoms of bowel cancer?
A polyp can take five to ten years to turn into bowel cancer. Often, there are no early symptoms.
Common symptoms include:
- Bowel bleeding.
- Blood in poo.
- Dark poo.
- Persistent unusual changes in bowel habits (diarrhoea/constipation).
- Belly (abdominal) pain.
- Anaemia (which can cause tiredness).
- Unintentional weight loss.
- A noticeable belly (abdominal) lump.
For more on symptoms, please visit our bowel cancer information.
Who does bowel cancer affect?
Almost 9 in 10 diagnoses of bowel cancer in the UK are in people over 60. However, cases in younger people are increasing.
How common is bowel cancer?
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. In 2021, doctors in the UK diagnosed over 49,000 people with bowel cancer.
Steve’s bowel cancer story
Bowel habits can be embarrassing to talk about, but for your doctor, it’s simply a key piece of information to find the best treatment for you. Most changes to your bowel habits turn out not to be cancer, but finding it early makes treatment simpler and could save your life, as it did mine. There is no downside to an early conversation with a doctor.
Bowel cancer has many causes, and no one should delay having symptoms checked out because of what friends or family might think of them.
The importance of checking your poo
Always remember, a new, prolonged change in your bowel habit that has lasted for 4 weeks or more should always be discussed with your doctor.
Not sure where to start when it comes to checking your poo? Guts UK charity’s Poo-Torial will guide you through the colour, consistency and frequency of your poo.
Where can I find more information on bowel cancer?
Our accredited information on digestive conditions and symptoms includes bowel cancer. Our Helpline team can also provide information, guidance and support.
Why is raising awareness of bowel cancer important?
Raising awareness for digestive conditions such as bowel cancer is at the heart of what we do at Guts UK. Early diagnosis saves lives. Far too many people delay seeking help because of the stigma surrounding our guts. We believe that knowledge is power. By making vital noise for our guts, we can empower everyone to know their normal and spot the signs when something isn’t right. We won’t stop talking about our guts until it becomes second nature. No one should suffer in silence or alone.
How can I help?
You can help us raise awareness of bowel cancer by:
- Following us on social media and sharing our awareness and information posts during the week itself. You never know who we might reach and help together. You can find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
- Share an experience with bowel cancer with your own circles, and on your own social media channels. Submit your interest in sharing your story here.
- Fundraise for Guts UK Charity to help us abolish the taboos surrounding digestive health, and get to grips with guts. You can fund life-changing research and empower people to seek help sooner.
- Donate £5 per month to Guts UK today. You can save lives by helping us to reach people sooner with the information they need.
