Bowel cancer

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#Bowel cancer

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Mike Brady, whose bowel cancer was found through the BowelScreen programme. Picture: Larry Cummins</p>

health and wellbeing

I'm glad I said yes to BowelScreen invites — my fourth routine test found cancer

The home screening test for bowel cancer in the BowelScreen programme is available to people aged between 58 and 70, and although four in 100 may be called for a colonoscopy, only 5% of those will have cancer.

<p>HSE National Screening Service public health medicine consultant Dr Alan Smith, GP advisor Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon, and patient advocates, Mary Kennedy and Peter Larner, at a HSE event to launch the expansion of the bowel screen programme. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland</p>

news

Bowel Cancer Ireland criticises 'incremental' expansion of screening programme

<p> Brendan Donlan who was treated for bowel cancer seven years ago. Picture: Moya Nolan</p>

health and wellbeing

I was diagnosed with bowel cancer at age 48 — we need to lower the screening age

If you throw away your BowelScreen invite, you’re binning your chance of getting lucky like I did

health and wellbeing

If you throw away your BowelScreen invite, you’re binning your chance of getting lucky like I did

Dear men of Ireland: If a free test could save your life, why not do it?

health and wellbeing

Dear men of Ireland: If a free test could save your life, why not do it?

I was healthy and had no symptoms but bowel cancer screening found a stage-two tumour

health and wellbeing

I was healthy and had no symptoms but bowel cancer screening found a stage-two tumour

Working Life: I encourage Roma people to take up screening

Working Life: I encourage Roma people to take up screening

Deborah Whelan is a community Roma health worker

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Bowel screening is a powerful tool in preventing cancer, so why is Irish uptake so low?

Bowel screening is a powerful tool in preventing cancer, so why is Irish uptake so low?

The disease can be in our system for up to 10 years before it shows signs or symptoms

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

'I have no regrets. I loved my mam so much': Niamh Drohan on losing her mother to bowel cancer

S 'I have no regrets. I loved my mam so much': Niamh Drohan on losing her mother to bowel cancer

Niamh Drohan, a senior PR account manager with Hopkins Communications, tells Helen O’Callaghan about the day she faced the crushing reality of her mother Noelle’s terminal bowel cancer diagnosis

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

'Bowel cancer is the third most lethal cancer, but a simple home test is improving survival rates'

'Bowel cancer is the third most lethal cancer, but a simple home test is improving survival rates'

The most notable gains in treatment success rates are seen in the age group participating in the bowel screening programme. So why are uptake rates so low?

Thu, 12 Feb, 2026

ieExplains: What was said at the HSE's World Cancer Day webinar?

ieExplains: What was said at the HSE's World Cancer Day webinar?

Exercise or physical activity can help reduce cancer risks, and every single move counts, a free HSE webinar marking World Cancer Day has heard.

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Young female doctor examining a small girl in her office.

Nine cancer symptoms you should never ignore and how telling a doctor early could save your life

Early detection can often save lives — but the disease doesn’t always cause obvious symptoms at first, which is why noticing small changes matters

Fri, 23 Jan, 2026

Man, headache and stress in office, burnout and brain fog with fatigue for deadline at startup. Person, migraine and frustrated

Health warning signs midlife men should never ignore

Middle-aged males often dismiss health red flags until it’s too late, even though a trip to the GP can prevent risky symptoms from developing into serious problems

Sun, 18 Jan, 2026

New €8m Bantry endoscopy unit opens as CUH expands BowelScreen services

New €8m Bantry endoscopy unit opens as CUH expands BowelScreen services

A new €8m endoscopy unit in Bantry and expanded CUH BowelScreen services aim to boost early detection and reduce waiting lists

Sat, 15 Nov, 2025

'I thought I was having a heart attack — it was actually bowel cancer'

'I thought I was having a heart attack — it was actually bowel cancer'

Cork-based mother of two Natasha O’Byrne is undergoing chemotherapy, but that hasn’t stopped her from raising money for the charity that came to her aid

Mon, 25 Aug, 2025

NIAMH CONROY

'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

Mon, 18 Aug, 2025

Female Doctor Examining Patients Birthmarks

The benefits of early detection when it comes to different cancers

Screening programmes are vital, but there is also much that each of us can do in terms of self-checking when it comes to spotting the early signs of disease

Fri, 08 Aug, 2025

Delays in cancer treatment are 'causing avoidable deaths', Irish Cancer Society warns

Delays in cancer treatment are 'causing avoidable deaths', Irish Cancer Society warns

It also warned of major disparity in wait times for different regions across the country

Wed, 09 Jul, 2025

Extending bowel cancer screening to over 50s would reduce deaths but cost up to €66m, Hiqa says

Extending bowel cancer screening to over 50s would reduce deaths but cost up to €66m, Hiqa says

Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in men and the third most common cancer in women and third leading cause of cancer death in Ireland

Mon, 07 Jul, 2025

Study suggests fear of results contributes to low bowel cancer screening uptake

Study suggests fear of results contributes to low bowel cancer screening uptake

2,500 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in Ireland, and about 1,000 die

Wed, 02 Apr, 2025

Ireland again misses target for bowel cancer screening as numbers taking lifesaving test drop

Ireland again misses target for bowel cancer screening as numbers taking lifesaving test drop

The HSE Bowelscreen can detect bowel cancer before signs or symptoms are even present

Tue, 01 Apr, 2025

Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon: 'I’m one of a growing number of young people with bowel cancer'

Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon: 'I’m one of a growing number of young people with bowel cancer'

Dr Sarah Fitzgibbon is living with stage four colorectal cancer. In a special edition, she collaborates with Feelgood to raise awareness of the warning signs and encourage those eligible to participate in the free BowelScreen programme

Listen | Sat, 29 Mar, 2025

Daffodil Day: Cork woman who lost husband to cancer won't let her own diagnosis hold her back

Daffodil Day: Cork woman who lost husband to cancer won't let her own diagnosis hold her back

Julie Murtagh O’Connell, from Cobh, who will stage her 10th Strictly Cobh Dancing event next weekend. spoke about her own 10-year cancer journey

Fri, 28 Mar, 2025

'I tried to stay upbeat for everybody, I kind of lost myself': How counselling helps with healing

'I tried to stay upbeat for everybody, I kind of lost myself': How counselling helps with healing

Cancer treatment and rounds of appointments can keep patients busy and reassured, but when they end, many feel alone. This is where psycho-oncology begins

Fri, 28 Mar, 2025

JODY CONNAUGHTON

'Just get checked. Better to find nothing wrong, than learn too late'

When Jody Connaughton turned 60 and received his postal invitation to participate in BowelScreen, he did not take it up

Fri, 28 Mar, 2025

Cork hospital caterer Martina Murphy: 'Good outcomes are like winning the Lotto'

Cork hospital caterer Martina Murphy: 'Good outcomes are like winning the Lotto'

Martina Murphy is nearing retirement after more than 40 years working as a caterer at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork. She shares her experience working on St Bernadette’s ward - where oncology and haematology patients come for treatment

Fri, 28 Mar, 2025

‘Travellers are dying of same diseases as all of us’

‘Travellers are dying of same diseases as all of us’

The ethnic group no longer fears the word ‘cancer’, thanks to community health education

Fri, 28 Mar, 2025

GERARD WHITE

'A colonoscopy found five polyps in my colon'

Gerard White's experience with cancer has made him value his health and prioritise it more

Fri, 28 Mar, 2025

'Give it a go': Former patients share their experiences of cancer screening

'Give it a go': Former patients share their experiences of cancer screening

A diverse network of volunteer representatives who have undergone screening offers the HSE valuable insights into the patient journey and advice on improving its communications

Fri, 28 Mar, 2025

CC LEINSTER HOUSE

Cork TD Thomas Gould opens up about bowel cancer diagnosis and treatment

The Sinn Féin TD received the shock diagnosis three months ago but doctors are very positive about his recovery

Fri, 21 Feb, 2025

Costumer Buying Food at the Market

Here are eight ultra-processed foods to cut from your shopping basket for good

The worst ultra-processed foods offenders include processed cheese, vegan 'meat' burgers, and sugary drinks

Fri, 31 Jan, 2025

Cork doctor with bowel cancer: 'More people are getting it under age 50'

Cork doctor with bowel cancer: 'More people are getting it under age 50'

Cork doctor Sarah Fitzgibbon didn't expect to hear that her scan had detected cancer, even though she knew it was only a matter of time.

Sat, 21 Sep, 2024

Stoma surgery: How the colorectal procedure is the best thing that ever happened to me

Stoma surgery: How the colorectal procedure is the best thing that ever happened to me

Following years of painful flare-ups and medication for ulcerative colitis, Ashley Hoyne underwent stoma surgery and hasn’t looked back since

Fri, 30 Aug, 2024

Young dietitian with apple and dumbbell at clinic

Irish oncologists share eight things they do to lower their risk of cancer

Cancer is the leading cause of death, but up to half of all cases are preventable. We ask four oncologists about the steps they take to lower their risk

Sat, 17 Aug, 2024

Serious, anti aging and portrait of a mother and daughter isolated on a studio background. Skincare and a senior mom with a woma

How does your cancer risk change with age?

Some 41,000 people will be diagnosed with a form of cancer in 2024. So what should we look out for at different ages?

Fri, 26 Apr, 2024

HELEN DUNNE

I thought I had a haemorrhoid after giving birth — it was bowel cancer

Bowel cancer is often associated with older people, but the incidence is rising among younger age groups, writes Arlene Harris

Mon, 01 Apr, 2024

Cork teacher on bowel cancer diagnosis at 45: ‘My life would never be the same again’

Cork teacher on bowel cancer diagnosis at 45: ‘My life would never be the same again’

Secondary school teacher John O’Regan went to his doctor when he noticed a change in his bowel habits. The results from a follow-up colonoscopy were life-changing

Fri, 29 Mar, 2024

I was told it was perimenopause — but I had incurable bowel cancer

S I was told it was perimenopause — but I had incurable bowel cancer

Clodagh Downing was careful to visit her GP about health, but she was reassured she was too young to have a serious illness. Within months she was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer

Thu, 04 May, 2023

'I never thought cancer warnings were for me': Man, 48, on living with terminal bowel cancer

'I never thought cancer warnings were for me': Man, 48, on living with terminal bowel cancer

Michael Murphy was shocked to hear he had inoperable bowel cancer months after the initial symptoms presented - he thought his weight loss was due to a new health programme. Now living from scan to scan, he warns others not to put off seeing their doctor if they are concerned

Fri, 07 Apr, 2023

My body is doing all it can to keep me alive: Women living with cancer share their stories

S My body is doing all it can to keep me alive: Women living with cancer share their stories

Survival rates for those with invasive cancer have jumped by 50% in 10 years, thanks to ongoing medical improvements. Three women talk about living well despite their stage 4 diagnosis

Fri, 09 Dec, 2022

There was a lot I didn't realise about bowel cancer — here is what I learned the hard way

There was a lot I didn't realise about bowel cancer — here is what I learned the hard way

From a bloated tummy to a cancer diagnosis, Ali McCormack talks to Helen O'Callaghan about how she got through her surgery and chemotherapy

Sun, 07 Aug, 2022

Living with bowel cancer: Being told I had stage 4 cancer was a huge shock

Living with bowel cancer: Being told I had stage 4 cancer was a huge shock

A busy mother of five with a full-time job was shocked to hear she had advanced bowel cancer within days after visiting her GP

Thu, 14 Apr, 2022