Younger Kiwis facing long waits for bowel cancer answers despite rising cases, study finds

Friday, 26 June 2026

Lenore Farrelly started experiencing symptoms in her late 30s. These included changes in her stool consistency day-to-day, as well as “bouts of blood”.

Despite being told she was too young for bowel cancer and that her symptoms were likely post-pregnancy changes, the Christchurch woman pushed for further investigation after losing a family member to the disease.

“I’m a huge believer in your instincts, and knowing something’s not right.”

Eventually, a colonoscopy revealed she had a condition which caused her to grow bowel polyps. She was placed under regular surveillance and, during a routine check-up in 2024, a cancerous tumour was found - more than a decade before reaching the current screening age.

She underwent an extended right side hemicolectomy, where a section of her ascending colon was removed, along with “anything attached to the blood source”, like her appendix.

Scans showed it hadn’t spread to her lymph nodes. “I was so lucky.”

Farelly is urging Kiwis to trust their gut when it comes to unusual gastrointestinal symptoms, as a new, nationwide study published in the NZ Medical Journalfound younger New Zealanders with bowel cancer were waiting months for a diagnosis.

The study found many weren’t getting age-appropriate advice on managing their condition either, with jobs and family planning to worry about.

Researchers from the University of Otago’s Christchurch-based faculty of medicine, in partnership with Bowel Cancer NZ, surveyed 353 Kiwis diagnosed with colorectal cancer before the age of 50.

More than half experienced a delay of at least six months from when they first experienced symptoms to diagnosis, while one in five waited more than a year.

Researchers said earlier diagnosis could could improve outcomes. But of the respondents who knew their bowel cancer stage, almost two-thirds had been diagnosed with more advanced stages of the disease; 3 or 4.

Only 13% received information specifically designed for younger patients. Fewer than one-third received fertility counselling, while a similar proportion got advice on how treatment could impact sexual function.

Almost 60% took extended work or study leave after their diagnosis, and almost half experienced financial hardship from treatment costs or lost income.

Lead researcher Dr Rachel Purcell told The Press the youngest people in their study were diagnosed in their 20s.

“Younger people can and do get bowel cancer… We really need to make sure that we're not dismissing bowel symptoms just because people are under the age of 50.”

Common symptoms include persistent rectal bleeding, ongoing changes in bowel habits, and unexplained abdominal pain. These can unfortunately appear similar to other conditions, Purcell said.

The patients they spoke to were all well under the screening age. Currently, Kiwis aged 58 or older can be routinely tested, although in last month’s Budget, the Government confirmed this would drop to 56 in September.

“We're not even keeping pace with other countries where the screening age is 50. But even if it was, we still would not be capturing these people.”

Aotearoa was seeing a rise in the number of younger people diagnosed with bowel cancer, she said, as were many other countries. Making sure they got relevant information for their life stage was something the health system could quickly change.

“Something is changing in bowel cancer, and we don't really understand what it is. But also, these people have very different needs to older people as well.

“We really need to get a handle on that, because this isn't stopping.”

For Farrelly, now 48, the “terrifying” part was she hadn’t realised she had any symptoms this time around.

“But looking back, I was tired, I was gassier than usual,” she said. “You just put it down to life.”

After her surgery, it took close to a year for her energy levels to bounce back - and she still can’t stomach some foods.

While talking about poo could feel “a bit icky”, she said people shouldn’t be shy to raise red flags.

“It’s just about being brave, and having that discussion.”

Bowel Cancer NZ chief executive Peter Huskinson said the study confirmed what young people and their families “have been telling us for years”.

“Too many have had their symptoms dismissed or attributed to less serious conditions simply because they were considered 'too young' to have bowel cancer.”

The publication of these findings in the New Zealand Medical Journal was an important milestone, he said.

“It means high-quality New Zealand evidence about the experiences of younger people with bowel cancer will reach clinicians across the country, helping raise awareness that bowel cancer can affect people of any age and reinforcing the importance of investigating persistent symptoms, regardless of someone's age.”