Cancer survivor calls on public to pay attention to possible signs and symptoms of bowel cancer

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and bowel cancer survivor, Ciaran Cunningham has joined the Irish Cancer Society to call on the public to pay attention to the possible signs and symptoms of bowel cancer.

Bowel cancer is Ireland’s second most common cause of cancer-related death, second only to lung cancer, with about 2,500 diagnoses each year and around 1,000 deaths each year.

Diagnosed aged 50 in 2024, Ciaran, a father of two and an executive chef from Dublin now living in Kildare, had previously ignored bowel cancer symptoms due to a prior history of stomach ulcers and embarrassment in raising his symptoms with his GP.

Ciaran Cunningham, bowel cancer survivor (pictured above), said:

“In hindsight, I had almost all the alarming symptoms you could think of, and I had them for quite a while.

“I previously suffered with ulcers, so I think I told myself that’s what the symptoms were from.

“But I also think I was a bit embarrassed to come forward and speak to my GP about them.

“My bowel habits were all off. I had blood in my stool. I had aches and pains. I just ploughed on.

 “When I look back, am I annoyed at myself for not going to the doctor sooner? 100% I am.

“Had my cancer been caught earlier, maybe my treatment wouldn’t have been as harsh.

“But I can’t do anything about that now. I can only move forward.

“I want to raise as much awareness as I can to try help people avoid going through what I have.

“My message to the public this Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and every month is simple; please don’t ignore your symptoms.

“If something doesn’t feel right and it’s been like that for a while, just go and speak to your doctor.”

The Irish Cancer Society is calling on the public be aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and to go to their GP if they spot any of these on a persistent basis.

They are particularly calling on younger people under 50 to become more aware of these symptoms and to be mindful if you have a family history of bowel cancer.

Dr. Emily Harrold, Consultant Medical Oncologist at the Trinity St. James Cancer Institute, said: “During Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, and beyond, we are asking people to familiarise themselves with the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer.

“If you spot any of these symptoms and they persist, talk to your GP.

“Often, these symptoms are caused by something other than bowel cancer, but it is vital that to get checked by your GP if you’re concerned. 

“Ciaran is sharing his story of bowel cancer at a young age to highlight a situation that is too common with regard to dismissal or lack of awareness of the symptoms of bowel cancer particularly in younger patients.

“He is also calling attention to the embarrassment and discomfort that patients can feel speaking about changes in their toilet habits to their GP.

“These conversations, as awkward as they might be, could be lifesaving.

“The earlier a bowel cancer is identified the greater the likelihood of cure and this can often be achieved with surgery alone. 

“His call to action to anyone reading his story is not to ignore symptoms.  

“I would add further to that by emphasising that with the increased numbers of patients we are seeing with bowel cancer under 50 you are never too young to check in with your doctor if your toilet habit changes.”

 “Colon cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death in both men and women under the age of 50 in the US and this is a trend we are seeing globally for reasons that are not yet fully clear.

“This rise in young onset cancers underpins our desire to deliver specifically tailored care for those patients in the Young Onset Cancer Programme at St James’s Hospital.

“The programme aims to provide a framework built on international best practise for the care of young adult patients with colorectal, upper gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and head and neck cancers, diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 50.

“The programme commenced in January 2025, and has so far processed over 100 patient referrals, which highlights the real need for a programme like this in an Irish context.”

Signs and symptoms of Bowel Cancer include:

Risk Factors of Bowel Cancer include: