A doctor has highlighted early warning signs of bowel cancer following the death of Olympic athlete Ciara Mageean at the age of 34. The former European champion and two-time Olympic runner died on Sunday, less than 18 months after being diagnosed with stage four cancer in May 2025.
Her family announced the news on social media, saying: "At 6:30am this morning, Ciara lost her battle with cancer surrounded by her loved ones. A beloved daughter, sister, wife, friend and inspiration to so many, she will be deeply missed." The statement added: "Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam" - "may her soul be at the right hand of God", or more simply: "May she rest in peace".
Rising Cases in Younger Adults
Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK, behind lung cancer, killing around 17,700 people every year, according to Cancer Research UK. Someone is diagnosed with the disease every 30 minutes - around 48,200 to 49,300 people every year.
Latest figures show the disease is increasingly affecting younger adults, with incidence rates among people aged 25 to 49 rising by more than 50% since the early 1990s. Following her diagnosis, Mageean urged people not to miss the signs that she had dismissed and not to ignore their health.
She had previously spoken about experiencing increasingly frequent changes in her bowel habits, at one point needing to use the toilet four times in the morning. She initially put the symptoms down to the demands of training or something she had eaten, and described feeling crampy and wondering whether she had irritable bowel syndrome. It was her partner who encouraged her to seek medical advice.
New Research Into the Rise
Her death comes as researchers launch a major UK study to investigate why bowel cancer is becoming more common in younger adults. The PROSPECT-UK study, funded by Cancer Research UK and led by researchers at King's College London in collaboration with ZOE, aims to recruit 250,000 people aged 18 to 50.
Researchers will examine information about participants' diet, lifestyle, environment and health to help identify factors that may be associated with the rise. While the study could help shed light on possible explanations, researchers stress that the reasons behind the increase are not yet fully understood.
Symptoms to Watch For
GPs are also urging younger people not to dismiss changes in their bodies simply because they are under 50. Dr Asiya Maula, a private GP at The Health Suite, says symptoms can easily be mistaken for everyday digestive problems, stress or changes in diet.
"Bowel cancer is often thought of as a disease that affects older people, so younger adults may not immediately consider it when they notice changes in their digestion," she said. "Symptoms such as bloating, stomach cramps or changes in bowel habits are common and are usually caused by something less serious. But if they are persistent, unusual for you or getting worse, it is important to get them checked rather than assume they are down to diet or stress."
The GP shared symptoms people should look out for, including:
- Blood in your poo: This can appear bright red or make stools look darker. Although there are many possible causes, unexplained bleeding should always be checked.
- A persistent change in bowel habits: This could mean going to the toilet more or less often than usual, or experiencing diarrhoea or constipation that does not settle.
- Ongoing bloating or stomach pain: Repeated discomfort, cramps or bloating that is unusual for you should not be ignored.
- Unexplained weight loss: Losing weight without changing your diet or activity levels can be a warning sign.
- Unusual tiredness or breathlessness: Bowel cancer can sometimes cause anaemia through blood loss, leaving people feeling unusually exhausted or short of breath.
- Feeling that your bowel has not emptied properly: A persistent sensation that you still need to go after using the toilet is another symptom worth discussing with a GP.
Dr Maula says age should not be a reason to delay seeking advice. "Many of these symptoms will have a straightforward explanation, and having one does not mean you have cancer. But it is important to pay attention to what is normal for your body.
"If something changes and does not go away, keeps coming back or is getting worse, speak to your GP. You do not need to wait until you have several symptoms, and you should never feel that you are too young to ask for help."
She adds that people should seek medical advice if they experience unexplained bleeding, a persistent change in bowel habits or other symptoms that are unusual for them.
