This blog will cover:
- What bowel cancer is and how it affects people
- What employers can do to help spread awareness
- What further support is available
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, with almost 44,000 people diagnosed each year. Despite this, awareness of symptoms and screening remains relatively low, particularly among working-age populations.
This presents an opportunity for organisations who are uniquely positioned to influence healthy behaviours at scale, encourage early detection, and support employees in seeking help when it matters most.
While bowel cancer is more common in people over 50, it can affect individuals of any age. Early diagnosis significantly improves outcomes, making workplace awareness initiatives a vital part of your health and wellbeing strategy.
What is bowel cancer and how does it affect people?
Bowel cancer affects the large intestine, including the colon and rectum. It typically develops from small growths called polyps, which can become cancerous over time.
The three main symptoms to be aware of are:
- Blood in the stool
- Persistent changes in bowel habits (such as going more frequently or experiencing looser stools)
- Ongoing abdominal pain or discomfort
Additional symptoms may include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, or a persistent feeling of needing to empty the bowel.
One of the key challenges with bowel cancer is that these symptoms are often mistaken for other benign conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome or minor digestive issues. This can delay people from seeking medical advice.
For employers, this highlights the importance of normalising conversations around health and ensuring employees feel confident accessing support if they have any concerns.
Risk factors
Several factors can increase the risk of developing bowel cancer, including:
- Age (risk increases significantly after 50)
- Family history of bowel cancer
- Diets high in red or processed meat and low in fibre
- Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
- Physical inactivity
- Being overweight or obese
- Pre-existing conditions such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
While not all risk factors can be controlled, many are linked to lifestyle.
Why this matters for employers
Early detection and prevention can:
- Reduce long-term sickness absence
- Improve employee productivity and engagement
- Lower health-related costs
- Support talent retention and workforce stability
Investing in awareness and preventative health measures demonstrates a clear commitment to employee wellbeing, while also helping to protect organisational resilience.
What can employers do to raise awareness about bowel cancer?
There are many ways employers can raise awareness about bowel cancer. Below are some ideas you could consider:
1. Promote screening programmes
Encouraging employees to take part in NHS bowel cancer screening is one of the most effective actions employers can take. The programme is currently offered to people aged 50 to 74.
Screening involves a simple home test kit, which checks for small amounts of blood in a stool sample. It’s quick, non-invasive, and can detect early signs of cancer before symptoms develop.
Clear communication and reminders can significantly improve uptake across eligible employees.
2. Provide access to preventative health support
Workplace health checks and screenings can play an important role in early detection and overall health awareness.
This type of intervention can:
- Identify potential health risks before symptoms appear
- Encourage employees to engage with their health proactively
- Provide a clear pathway to further medical support where needed
Optima Health can support with onsite health checks for your organisation, read more about onsite health checks here.
3. Build awareness through communication
Awareness campaigns play a key role in helping employees recognise symptoms and take action.
Employers can support this by:
- Sharing educational content through internal channels
- Running awareness initiatives during key health campaigns
- Providing managers with guidance on how to signpost support
- Encouraging open, stigma-free conversations around health
Given the sensitive nature of bowel-related symptoms, creating a culture where these topics can be discussed openly is essential.
4. Support healthier lifestyle choices
Many risk factors for bowel cancer are linked to lifestyle, making prevention a key area of focus.
Employers can encourage healthier behaviours by:
- Promoting balanced nutrition, including increased fibre intake
- Supporting physical activity through workplace initiatives
- Providing guidance on reducing smoking and alcohol consumption
- Offering wellbeing programmes that focus on sustainable behaviour change
Even small, consistent changes can have a meaningful impact on long-term health outcomes.
What further support is available?
There are several organisations that can support employers in raising awareness and providing resources:
- Cancer Research UK – Research, statistics, and guidance on prevention and treatment.
- Bowel Cancer UK – Dedicated support, campaigns, and educational materials.
- NHS website – Information on symptoms, screening, and treatment pathways.
- Macmillan – Resources, training, and employee support services.
Summary
Employers have a role to play in improving bowel cancer awareness across their people. By promoting screening, increasing understanding of symptoms, and supporting healthier lifestyles, organisations can help drive earlier diagnosis and better health outcomes.
For HR leaders, the opportunity is clear: embedding preventative health into your wellbeing strategy can make a measurable difference to both your people and your business.
Optima Health provide a range of occupational health and mental health interventions to help support employee wellbeing and reduce sickness absence. Contact us today to find out how Optima Health can support your health and wellbeing initiatives.