Bowel cancer (colorectal cancer) is New Zealand's second most common cancer and second most common cause of cancer death, with over 3,500 new cases annually. New Zealand has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world. This guide covers the key funding sources for bowel cancer services and research.
Bowel Cancer NZ advocates for and funds:
- Awareness: Bowel cancer awareness and screening promotion
- Patient support: Information and peer support resources
- Research: Research funding
- Advocacy: National Bowel Screening Programme advocacy
Cancer Society NZ:
- Regional support for bowel cancer patients
- Research grants
- Community education and awareness
National Bowel Screening Programme (NBSP):
- FIT (faecal immunochemical test) for people aged 60–74
- Two-yearly screening
- Colonoscopy for positive results
The NBSP is a major investment in early detection.
Health system bowel cancer treatment:
- Surgery: Colectomy, rectal resection — laparoscopic and robotic
- Radiation oncology: Pre-operative and adjuvant radiotherapy for rectal cancer
- Systemic therapy: Chemotherapy (FOLFOX, CAPOX) and targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy: MSI-high tumour treatment
HRC funds colorectal cancer research:
- Screening effectiveness
- Surgical technique and outcomes
- Systemic therapy for metastatic disease
Gaming trusts fund bowel cancer community programmes:
- Four Winds Foundation: Community health including cancer
- Grassroots Trust: Community health
- Lion Foundation: Community health
Gaming trust bowel cancer applications:
- Screening awareness campaigns
- Patient support events
- Transport to colonoscopy
- Financial hardship support during treatment
Equity issues:
- Māori: Lower bowel cancer screening uptake — targeted outreach needed
- Pacific: Similarly lower screening participation
- Ministry for Pacific Peoples: Pacific community cancer equity
Hereditary colorectal cancer:
- Lynch syndrome: Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer — genetic testing
- FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis): Surveillance and prophylactic surgery
- Familial CRC: Family history surveillance programmes
Rural bowel cancer access:
- Colonoscopy access: Waiting times in rural areas
- Telehealth: Remote specialist consultation
- Screening equity: Rural screening participation
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Screening rates: FIT screening participation — especially in underserved groups
- Equity: Māori and Pacific screening and treatment access
- Patient support: Information and navigation through diagnosis and treatment
- Research: Improved outcomes through clinical research
- Early detection: Shift to earlier stage diagnosis
- Surgical outcomes: Complication rates and recovery
- Rural access: Colonoscopy and treatment access in rural areas
Tahua's grants management platform helps bowel cancer organisations manage grant applications across Bowel Cancer NZ, Cancer Society NZ, gaming trusts, and health foundations, tracking screening participation, patient support, and research outcomes.