'A mother busy with a young family ignored blood in her stool — she had stage four bowel cancer'

One in 10 who develop the disease is under 50, so it’s essential to be vigilant and tackle the stigmas associated with discussing poo

Niamh Conroy, founder of a patient support group Bowel Cancer Ireland, has stage four bowel cancer. Picture: Gareth Chaney.

-This article was originally published in March as part of a series of projects marking Feelgood's 25th anniversary.

Bowel cancer is not ageist. Over the last 30 years, colorectal cancer — cancer in bowel and rectum — in people younger than 50 has become more common globally.