Kleenex has launched a nationwide awareness campaign with Bowel Cancer Australia that places bowel cancer reminders directly on toilet paper packaging, encouraging Australians to “check your poo” and take note of possible symptoms. The initiative is part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and includes a dedicated support hub, poocheck.com.au, designed to provide information and encourage earlier conversations about bowel health.
The campaign is aimed at reducing embarrassment and stigma around discussing toilet habits, which Kleenex says can stop people from recognising warning signs and seeking help. The company’s research found that 62 per cent of Australians talk about going to the toilet as a joke, while 57 per cent say they are too embarrassed to use the toilet at someone else’s house. Nearly one in three, or 29 per cent, said they feel uncomfortable talking about going to the toilet at all. Despite those attitudes, 81 per cent of respondents agreed that going to the toilet should not be taboo.
Kleenex says the campaign is intended to place health reminders in one of the most ordinary parts of daily life: the bathroom. Pamela Wyatt, head of growth at Kimberly-Clark, said the aim is to make people more aware of the importance of checking for symptoms and having open conversations about bowel habits. She said the campaign seeks to reduce the embarrassment that often prevents people from noticing changes and acting on them.
Bowel Cancer Australia said the initiative is especially important because bowel cancer remains a major health threat. Julien Wiggins, chief executive of the organisation, said bowel cancer is the deadliest cancer for people aged 25 to 54. He said recognising red flag symptoms and having them investigated quickly is essential to ruling out bowel cancer as a possible cause.
Wiggins also urged Australians to overcome what the campaign calls the “poo taboo,” noting that bowel cancer outcomes are far better when the disease is detected early. He said almost 99 per cent of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated when found in time.
The packaging rollout is now available on shelves across the country, with the campaign using everyday toilet paper packs as a visible reminder for Australians to pay attention to bowel changes and seek medical advice if needed.
