New Zealand and Australia Have Highest Bowel Cancer Death Rates

A newly-released report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed New Zealand and Australia as the countries with the highest bowel cancer rates in the world. The report has prompted support groups to call for a national screening programme for early prevention and treatment of bowel cancer.

Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa said New Zealanders may be reluctant to talk to their doctors about bowel cancer. Kiwis and Australians may be literally "dying" from embarrassment.

According to the WHO report, New Zealand has a 55 per cent bowel cancer survival rate. The figure is low compared to existing data of 75 per cent survival rate when patients are diagnosed and treated early.

New Zealand's Ministry of Health has treated almost 100 Kiwis in a pilot screening programme in Waitemata. However, the ministry still has two years to decide if the programme will be open to the rest of the country.

The WHO report used worldwide data from 2012. Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in women with 614,000 cases in the world. It is also the third most common cancer among men at 10 per cent or 746,000 cases.

The WHO stated that 55 per cent of total bowel cancer cases happen in more developed nations. The lowest rates of bowel cancer can be found in Western Africa.

Chief executive of Beat Bowel Cancer Megan Smith urged the government to implement a free screening programme to reduce New Zealand's bowel cancer death rate. She said New Zealanders should be able to detect symptoms of bowel cancer and talk to their doctors right away when symptoms are noticed.

Know the symptoms of bowel cancer

Ms Smith remarked too many people are dying from bowel cancer since they are "too embarrassed" to talk about their symptoms.

According to cancer experts, symptoms of bowel cancer are bleeding from the bottom or noticeable blood after bowel movement. Another symptom may be changes in bowel movement over several weeks with persistent or periodic abdominal pain. A lump or mass in the abdomen may be felt along with tiredness and loss of weight.