Half of New Zealanders diagnosed with bowel cancer before age 50 waited more than six months from their first symptoms to receiving a diagnosis, according to research by the University of Otago Faculty of Medicine and Bowel Cancer NZ.
The study surveyed 353 people who had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer before turning 50, and found nearly 32% were initially misdiagnosed. Roughly 20% of patients saw healthcare providers four or more times before obtaining a referral for additional tests.
Misdiagnoses commonly included IBS, food intolerances and ulcerative colitis, with over half of patients receiving vague gastrointestinal or stress-related explanations for their symptoms. Rectal bleeding was among the most frequent symptoms that led nearly half of respondents to seek medical help, followed by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits.
The research, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, found 7.1% of respondents had colonoscopy referrals initially declined. The survey found only 12.8% were offered information on fertility and sexual side effects relevant to younger adults, while just 7.6% were provided cultural support.
Approximately 350 New Zealanders under 50 are diagnosed with early-onset bowel cancer each year, with a third presenting with late-stage, incurable disease. Bowel Cancer NZ chief executive Peter Huskinson said "bowel cancer that happens in your 20s, 30s, or 40s, is growing faster than New Zealand than any other country in the world".
The survey found almost 60% of respondents took extended leave from work or study after diagnosis, with nearly half experiencing financial hardship from treatment costs, lost income or additional family expenses.