Recently, I had my eyes opened about bowel cancer.

I was interviewing a woman who was living with the disease. Catherine Ross was diagnosed when she was just 28 years old. When she told me of her surprise at discovering stomach issues she had brushed off for years were actually the symptoms of a serious disease, I couldn’t help thinking I’d have done the exact same thing.

I’ve always considered bowel cancer to be something only older people get; something to be worried about later on in life. But that’s not the case – at all. It’s estimated more than 1000 people aged under 50 die from the disease each year.

To find out what else I might have misunderstood about bowel cancer, I spoke to TerryWhite Chemmart clinical services pharmacist Krystel Tresillian, who knows all about bowel cancer screenings, who needs them and when to have them.

Just how common is bowel cancer?

Australia has high rates of bowel cancer. (Image via Getty.)

What warning signs do you need to look out for?

How do you detect it?

Bowel cancer screening kits allow you to take the test at home. (Image via Getty.)

Where can you get a screening kit?

Have you or someone you know been touched by bowel cancer? Share your experience with us below.

Find out more about bowel cancer screening on TerryWhite Chemmart's website.

This content was created with thanks to our brand partner TerryWhite Chemmart.