Celebrated Canadians support Colon Cancer Canada

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Colon Cancer Canada is launching its 2012 campaign with the help of some high profile Canadians through a hard-hitting Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign that promotes the message that when it comes to colon cancer, silence can be deadly and people need to talk about it.

Canadian celebrities involved in the campaign include Olympic medalist Adam van Koeverden, singing legend Anne Murray, hockey legend Darryl Sittler, actress Emmanuelle Chriqui, actor Neil Crone and colon cancer survivor Pamela Wallin.

“We are pleased and honoured to have these well-known Canadians on board with our campaign,” said Amy Elmaleh, co-founder of Colon Cancer Canada. “They all have a personal story that brought them to Colon Cancer Canada and we couldn’t be more proud of them for stepping up and giving their time to help us get our important message across.”

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of both male and female cancer-related deaths in Canada. In 2011 over 22,200 Canadians were diagnosed with colon cancer. What is even more startling is the fact that almost half of those diagnosed died. This is because nearly half of those diagnosed found out too late. Colon cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer. If caught early, over 90% of cases could and should result in a full recovery.

“One of the issues surrounding colon cancer and the reason so many people don’t get the help they need is the fear of talking about it,” says Amy Elmaleh. “For some reason, there is a stigma attached to the disease that we need to dispel and do so quickly. We are hoping our PSA campaign will get the word out that knowing the signs of colon cancer and talking about it with your family and your doctor will result in prevention and an effective cure.”

The PSA’s are available for download from the Colon Cancer Canada website at www.coloncancercanada.ca and can be aired throughout 2012. The message is simple – talk to your doctor and take a simple test because not knowing is not the answer.

In addition to Colon Cancer Awareness month and the PSA campaign, there are a number of activities taking place in 2012 to help raise  awareness of colon cancer.

Including: the Anne Murray Charity Golf Classic - The 2012 Anne Murray Charity Golf Classic will be held on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at Angus Glen Golf Course, in Markham, Ontario, with all proceeds going to Colon Cancer Canada. Celebrities joining the field this year will be announced later this month.

Colon Cancer Canada’s 16th Annual Walk/Run - “Push for Your Tush” will take place across the country in the following cities:
Toronto – Sunday, May 27 at East Don Parkland
Aurora – Saturday, June 2 at Aurora Family Leisure Complex
Tri-Cities (Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo) – Sunday, June 3 at Riverside Park – Dolph Area Cambridge
Burlington – Sunday, June 10 at Tansley Woods Park and Community Centre
Durham Region – Sunday, June 10 at the Whitby Waterfront
Vancouver – Sunday, June 10 at Jericho Beach
Calgary – Sunday, July 8 at Fish Creek Provincial Park

These popular and successful fundraising events are an excellent opportunity to bring together patients,  family members and friends and help make a difference for this important cause. To date the annual walks/runs have raised over $2,500,000 for Colon Cancer Canada.

Background
Colon Cancer Canada was started in 1996 with a mission to raise public awareness of this deadly disease. To date, with the help of hundreds of committed volunteers across the country, Colon Cancer Canada has raised more than $6.6 million. Colon Cancer Canada is making a significant impact on this disease by financially assisting research efforts to find a cure and by offering a network of support for patients and families.

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FAST FACTS on Colon Cancer:

Colon Cancer by the Numbers:
- It is the second leading cause of male and female cancer-related deaths in Canada.
- Colon cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer. If screened and caught early – the chances of survival increase by 90%. Unfortunately as it stands today, nearly half of those diagnosed find out too late.
- Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer.
- In 2011, 22,200 Canadians were diagnosed with colon cancer – 9,500 died.
- Anyone 50 and up should be screened regardless of family history and earlier if you are at higher risk.

Risk Factors:
There is no “single cause” for developing this disease, but there are several risk factors that include:
- A family history of colon cancer
- Increasing age (risk increases from the age of 50)
- Polyps present in the colon or rectum
- A diet high in fat
- An inactive lifestyle
- Obesity
- Inflammatory bowel disease

Signs and Symptoms:
- Change in bowel movements
- Blood in stool
- Abdominal discomfort
- Weight loss for no apparent reason
- Feeling that the bowel is not emptying completely
- Narrower than usual stools
- Feelings of weakness or feeling more tired than normal