Let's talk about poo!
For Bowel Cancer Awareness Month 2025, we've launched a range of health information activities to help smash poo taboos, continuing Dame Deborah James’s incredible legacy.
Poo taboos can delay or stop people from seeking help for unusual changes to their poo and bowel habits. This is why we must tackle them. ​ In fact, in a recent poll commissioned by the Fund, nearly a third (32%) of UK adults surveyed (an estimated 17.4 million UK adults) said that they are embarrassed or uncomfortable talking about changes in their poo or bowel habits with a GP/doctor*.
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We want to normalise and encourage more people to talk about their poo. The more people speak about it, the more comfortable they will feel about the subject. And this will make it easier to get help and speak to a doctor if something doesn’t look or feel quite right. This is so important because spotting bowel cancer early saves lives. ​
What we're up to in April
​For two weeks our taboo smashing posters and leaflets will be on display across all Cancer Research UK stores in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You may also spot them in a range of national newspapers.
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We've also launched 'Toilet Talk,' a cheeky new series over on our social channels. You’ll get to see a variety of famous faces sit down on our purple toilet and speak all about poo and why it's so important to break down the stigma, kicking off with broadcaster and author Gaby Roslin! Radio DJ and TV show host Melvin Odoom and First Dates bartender Merlin Griffiths, who was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in 2021, also visit our purple loo.
Follow the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with Toilet Talk, and be the first to hear about other exciting activity happening across bowel cancer awareness month.​​
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How you can get involved
Share our Toilet Talk series with your friends and family and most importantly, start talking about poo! 💩
Whether it’s with your friends, family or someone else you trust, over a cuppa or online, join in the conversation to help smash #PooTaboos. That way, you or your loved one will find it easier to tell a health professional if something isn’t right for you. In most cases it won't be cancer but, if it is, getting an early diagnosis can make all the difference.
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Visit the links below for more ways you can support the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, or to get more information about bowel cancer including signs and symptoms.
* Figures are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2055 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 5th - 6th March 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+)