Not in Victoria?
Blog

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month: Is Your Job Increasing Your Risk?

Published on Posted on

Please note that this post was written for Victorian audiences and the information within may not apply to other regions.

June is National Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, a crucial time to raise awareness of Australia’s second-deadliest cancer, and its often-overlooked link to workplace exposure. While genetics, age, and diet are well-known risk factors, emerging research has revealed that your job could be increasing your risk.

Bowel Cancer in Australia: A Snapshot

Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer globally, alongside New Zealand and other Western countries. The lifetime risk is about 1 in 17 for men and 1 in 20 for women, and while bowel cancer can occur at any age, risk increases significantly after age 50.

Some risk factors, such as age, family history, and genetic predisposition, are outside of individual control. However, an estimated 70% of contributing factors are lifestyle-related and potentially modifiable. These include:

  • A high-fibre diet (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains)
  • Minimising red and processed meats
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Increasing physical activity
  • Limiting alcohol
  • Avoiding smoking

That said, lifestyle changes alone are not always enough, particularly when long-term occupational exposures are involved.

Understanding Occupational Bowel Cancer

Occupational bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) refers to cases in which long-term exposure to carcinogens at work contributes to the development of cancer in the colon or rectum. These risks often build up over up to 15 years, and are rarely recognised until it’s too late.

Workers may be unknowingly exposed to a range of substances that can increase bowel cancer risk:

  • Asbestos: Classified as a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Exposure may occur not only in construction and demolition work, but also in plumbing, shipbuilding, insulation installation, fireproofing, and asbestos cement manufacturing, where workers may inhale or ingest microscopic fibres during cutting, drilling, or handling of asbestos-containing materials.
  • Silica dust: Also a classified carcinogen. Common in mining, construction, and stone fabrication, silica dust causes inflammation and systemic damage.
  • Plastic and rubber manufacturing: Workers in the plastics and rubber industries may be exposed to carcinogenic substances such as vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile, and butadiene, which have been linked to increased colorectal cancer risk. Chronic exposure to these chemicals, particularly in poorly ventilated environments, can result in toxic effects that elevate the likelihood of developing bowel cancer over time.
  • Diesel engine exhaust: A concern for transport, agriculture, and heavy machinery operators, as diesel exhaust contains carcinogenic compounds.
  • Benzene and solvents: Found in petrochemical, rubber, and plastics industries.
  • Ionising radiation: While most commonly associated with radiology and medical imaging professionals, exposure can also occur in a range of occupations including nuclear medicine technicians, radiation therapists, dental workers, aviation crew (due to cosmic radiation), industrial radiographers, security personnel, and even veterinary and dental staff who perform frequent X-rays. Prolonged or repeated low-dose exposure in these fields may increase the risk of colorectal cancer over time.

A notable study published in Gastroenterology identified a cluster of five workers under 50, all employed in a carpet manufacturing facility, who developed colorectal cancer. The patients shared no family history of the disease, pointing to a probable occupational cause and reinforcing the importance of investigating workplace links. This study highlights that occupational bowel cancer is not limited to traditionally high-risk industries – even seemingly low-risk or unexpected jobs can involve harmful exposures that go unnoticed for years.

Early-Onset Bowel Cancer: A Rising Threat

It is a common misconception that bowel cancer only affects older Australians. However, the fact is that early-onset bowel cancer, diagnosed in people under 50, is on the rise in Australia. Alarmingly, Australia now has the highest incidence in the world for bowel cancer among people under 50, with cases increasing by up to 8% annually in this group.

Bowel cancer is now the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25–54, and the data is concerning:

  • Bowel cancer is the seventh leading cause of death overall for Australians aged 25–44.
  • Each year, approximately 1,716 Australians under 50 are diagnosed, accounting for about 11.7% of all bowel cancer cases.
  • The risk of being diagnosed before age 40 has more than doubled since 2000.
  • There has been a 266% increase in incidence among 15–24 year olds over the past three decades.
  • Australians born in the 1990s have 2 to 3 times higher rates of bowel cancer than those born in the 1950s.

Young patients with bowel cancer report that their symptoms tend to be initially misattributed to haemorrhoids, food intolerances, postpartum changes, or a stressful lifestyle. Unfortunately, these misconceptions can delay diagnosis and treatment.

Although many symptoms of bowel cancer are non-specific and can mimic other conditions, no one is too young for bowel cancer. A global analysis of nearly 25 million patients under 50, spanning 81 studies, found the most common warning signs of early-onset bowel cancer to be:

  • Blood in the stool
  • Abdominal pain
  • Changes in bowel habits
  • Unexplained weight loss.

Crucially, blood in the stool was associated with a 5 to 54-fold increased likelihood of early-onset bowel cancer, while abdominal pain increased the likelihood by 1.3 to 6 times.

These findings are echoed by Australian research, which shows that younger patients:

  • Many spend three months to five years seeking answers
  • Often visit 10 or more GPs before receiving a diagnosis
  • Experience up to 60% longer time to diagnosis than older counterparts
  • Are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage of the disease.

Many younger patients report age bias in the healthcare system, where GPs’ low suspicion of cancer delays diagnostic referrals. This bias not only hinders shared decision-making but can also seriously compromise long-term health outcomes.

The Lifesaving Power of Screening and Early Detection

Bowel cancer is one of the most treatable cancers when detected early. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) offers free, non-invasive at-home screening tests to Australians aged 45 to 74, every two years.

This initiative, alongside improved access to colonoscopy and endoscopy, has contributed to a decline in bowel cancer rates and improved survival across Australia. If found early, more than 90% of cases can be successfully treated.

Yet participation in the program remains too low – only 40% of eligible people complete the test. If that number increases to 60%, over 84,000 deaths could be prevented by 2040.

For individuals working in high-risk occupations or with exposure to known carcinogens, it can be the difference between early intervention and a delayed diagnosis.

Symptoms to Watch Out For

Even with no family history or lifestyle risk factors, individuals exposed to harmful workplace substances should be vigilant for signs of bowel cancer, such as:

  • Changes in bowel habits, like diarrhea or constipation
  • The feeling of incomplete emptying
  • Rectal or anal pain
  • Unexplained anaemia
  • Blood in the stool
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Ongoing fatigue or weakness.

If you experience any of these, consult your GP immediately, regardless of your age.

Have You Been Diagnosed with Occupational Bowel Cancer?

If you or a loved one has received a bowel cancer diagnosis and suspect your work history may be responsible, you may be entitled to compensation.

It is important to note that primary colorectal (bowel) cancer is considered to be a presumptive right, applicable to career and volunteer firefighters, under the Firefighters’ Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Act 2019, meaning a presumption of work-relatedness may apply.

Workers diagnosed with an occupational cancer may be entitled to compensation that can cover:

  • Weekly loss of income benefits
  • Medical and like expenses
  • Impairment Benefit
  • In some circumstances, damages for pain and suffering and loss of earnings.
  • You may also be entitled to other benefits regardless of whether you qualify for WorkCover compensation, including total and permanent disablement benefits from your superannuation policy.

If you think you have occupational bowel cancer, see your general practitioner or specialist to determine if it may be due to the nature of your employment. It is important that you give an occupational history.

Given that the period between exposure and the onset of symptoms can be lengthy, early preventative measures and detection are highly recommended. If you believe you have signs of occupational bowel cancer or any other illness that stems from your working conditions, you can contact us for a free, no-obligation appointment.