How common is bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer is common—it kills more people in NSW than prostate cancer, breast cancer or melanoma.
But the good news is, if detected early, bowel cancer can be successfully treated in more than 90% of cases. That is why the bowel screening program is so important.

Find the latest statistics on bowel cancer incidence, mortality and survival in NSW.
 

Who is most impacted by bowel cancer?

In NSW, one in 12 men and one in 16 women will be diagnosed with bowel cancer during their lifetime1.

Our most recent data show 91 per cent of bowel cancers were found in people 50 years and over in NSW.1


What you need to know

Survival rates are significantly improved when bowel cancer is detected and treated early. Bowel cancer screening saves lives—it can detect cancer before symptoms appear.

Know the symptoms of bowel cancer and consult your doctor if you have any concerns.

Understand how to reduce your risk of bowel cancer—take measures such as eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, cereals and whole grains, maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active.

Understand more about lifestyle risk factors.

Source(s):

1. Annual NSW cancer incidence and mortality data set, 2018 (sourced from the NSW Cancer Registry, Cancer Institute NSW).

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Tags: Bowel Bowel screening
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