Today, Wednesday 28 September, is World Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Day

That's a bit of a long name, so let's break down what this day is all about. To start with, the word metastatic, also known as stage 4, advanced or secondary, means cancer that has spread to other parts of the body from the area where it first started. When talking about bowel cancer, the most common places for it to spread are the liver or the lungs.

Colorectal cancer is simply another name for bowel cancer. You may see this term used alongside, or in place of, 'bowel cancer' and it means cancers affecting the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and the rectum.

Every year in the UK, nearly 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer. 10,000 of those people are diagnosed at stage 4. World Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Day is a day when we aim to spread awareness of this type of cancer and to highlight the support and services available for people who have stage 4, or metastatic, cancer, including:

• We know that patients who have metastatic bowel cancer have difficulty being diagnosed and don't get access to effective treatment options, which means they typically have poorer chances of survival. We're continuing to improve access to treatment and quality of life for those diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer. For example we helped to secure two new drugs for patients with stage 4 bowel cancer
• Read our health information on advanced bowel cancer. Here you can find out more about types of treatment, further information on cancer which has spread to different parts of the body, questions to ask at health appointments and a lot more
• You can also download or order our free advanced bowel cancer information booklet. This booklet explains what advanced bowel cancer is and treatment options for when bowel cancer has spread to the liver, lungs, peritoneum or other sites. It covers how to cope with the diagnosis, manage your emotions and maintain a good quality of life
• Register your interest for Chat Together, a free six week series of one-hour weekly Zoom calls with a small group of other people who are affected by advanced bowel cancer
• Watch our video with Daniel de Brabander, who is living with stage 4 bowel cancer. You can also read his story here
• Watch our stage 4 diagnosis advice video
• Our online forum for people affected by advanced bowel cancer is a welcoming place to ask questions, read about people's experiences and support each other. You can also join our Facebook group for people living with stage 4 bowel cancer, or our group for caregivers
• Listen to our podcast episode on living well with advanced bowel cancer, where our host George Alagiah interviews Matthew Wiltshire who has stage four bowel cancer, and the charity's former Chief Executive, Deborah Alsina MBE

• We'll be hosting an online support event on advanced bowel cancer on Saturday 12 November. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear when registration opens

• You can help lead improvements and care for people with advanced bowel cancer by becoming one of our campaign supporters. Sign up today and we’ll support you to take action and make real change happen on issues that really matter to people with the disease

We strive to provide support and information to everyone affected by bowel cancer and fund breakthroughs in research to help save lives. If you've been inspired by our lifesaving work, donate today and help us stop people dying of the disease.