Remembering Irish Track Legend Ciara Mageean
Olympian and Irish track legend Ciara Mageean has tragically died at just 34 after a brave battle with bowel cancer. The athletics star sadly passed away on Sunday morning after an 18-month battle with Stage 4 bowel cancer.
A statement published on Ciara's Instagram by her family yesterday said, at 6:30am this morning, Ciara lost her battle with cancer surrounded by her loved ones. The statement added she was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, friend and inspiration to so many, and she will be deeply missed.
Mageean was diagnosed in May 2025 before courageously sharing her terminal diagnosis publicly earlier this year. A two-time Olympian, she represented Ireland in the 1500m at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games. Her impressive medal tally also includes European bronze in 2016, silver in 2022, and a Commonwealth Games silver in 2022. Just weeks ago, Ciara and her long-term partner Thomas Moran celebrated their wedding at a beautiful Belfast ceremony.
Tributes Flow for the County Down Runner
Athletics Ireland released a statement in which they paid tribute to the County Down runner. The organization stated that Ciara was a much-loved and inspirational figure who touched the lives of so many, and her courage, warmth and spirit will leave a lasting legacy.
The thoughts and heartfelt condolences of everyone at Athletics Ireland are with Ciara's family, friends and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time, wishing that she rest in peace.
Understanding Bowel Cancer Statistics and Impact
Almost 44,000 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with cancer in their bowel, which is part of the digestive system. It is the second deadliest cancer in the UK, claiming 16,500 lives a year. Most cases are spotted in people over 50, but the disease is increasingly affecting younger patients.
To help understand why this is, a new study, funded by Dame Deborah James' charity, was launched last month to investigate why rates of bowel cancer are rising among under-50s. The cancer can affect your toilet habits, which many people may feel embarrassed about bringing up with a doctor. But it is important to remember that they have heard all of this before and it is best to get red flag symptoms checked out as soon as possible.
Six Warning Signs You Must Never Ignore
These symptoms can include bleeding from your bottom, blood in your poo, a change in your pooing habits where you might be going more or less often, or have diarrhoea or constipation that might come and go, losing weight when you are not sure why, feeling very tired all the time, and a pain or lump in your tummy.
Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness. In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, which is known as a bowel obstruction.
Other signs of bowel cancer include:
- Gripping pains in the abdomen
- Feeling bloated
- Constipation and being unable to pass wind
- Being sick
- Feeling like you need to strain, like doing a number two, but after you have been to the loo
The signs of bowel cancer you need to know - remember BOWEL
- B: Bleeding
There are several possible causes of bleeding from your bottom, of blood in your poo. Bright red blood could come from swollen blood vessels, haemorrhoids or piles, in your back passage. Dark red or black blood could come from your bowel or stomach. Blood in your stools is one of the key signs of bowel cancer, so it is important to mention it to your doctor so they can investigate.
2. O: Obvious change in loo habits
It is important to tell your GP if you have noticed any changes in your bowel habits, that lasts three weeks or longer. It is especially important if you have also noticed signs of blood in your poo. You might notice you need to go to the loo more often, you might have looser stools or feel like you are not going enough or fully emptying your bowels. Do not be embarrassed, your GP will have heard a lot worse. Speak up and get it checked.
3. W: Weight loss
This is less common than the other symptoms, but an important one to be aware of. If you have lost weight and do not really know why, it is worth mentioning to your GP. You may not feel like eating, feel sick, bloated and not hungry.
4. E: Extreme tiredness
Bowel cancer that causes bleeding can cause a lack of iron in the body, which is anaemia. If you develop anaemia you are likely to feel tired and your skin might look pale.
5. L: Lump or pain
As with lots of other forms of cancer, a lump or pain can be a sign of bowel cancer. It is most likely you will notice a pain or lump in your stomach or back passage. See your GP if it does not go away, or if it affects how you eat or sleep.
Medical Tests and Screening Programs
If you have any of these symptoms, visit your GP. You may be given an at-home test kit called a faecal immunochemical test, known as a FIT, to collect a small sample of poo and send it to a lab. These check if you are bleeding from your bowel, which can be a sign of bowel cancer.
When bowel cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it is known as advanced or metastatic bowel cancer. According to Bowel Cancer UK, it is common for the disease to spread to the liver, lungs or peritoneum, which is a thin layer of tissue that covers the organs in your tummy. But it can also travel to the bones, ovaries or brain, though this is rarer.
In the UK, people between the ages of 50 and 74 are offered FIT tests every two years, as part of the NHS bowel cancer screening programme. If you are within this age range and registered with a GP, you will automatically get a test kit through the post.
What are the risk factors of bowel cancer?
You are at greater risk of bowel cancer if you have one or more of the following risk factors:
- You are aged over 50
- You have a strong family history of the disease
- A history of non-cancerous growths, known as polyps, in your bowel
- Long-term inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
- Type 2 diabetes
- You smoke, are overweight or obese and do not get enough exercise
