Walking Through a 40-Foot Colon Could Help Save Your Life

Get the Inside Truth about Colon Cancer

TORONTO, March 4 /CNW/ -

NEWS

What is 40 feet wide, eight feet high and pink all over? To raise awareness of the importance of early colorectal cancer screening, ColonCancerCheck, a joint program between the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Cancer Care Ontario, is bringing The Giant Colon Exhibit on a tour across the province.

To kick off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the Giant Colon will visit Toronto at Dufferin Mall on March, 4, 5 and 6, to educate Ontarians on how to reduce their risk of developing colorectal cancer.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, in 2009, an estimated 8,100 Ontarians were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 3,300 died from it. What many do not realize is that there is a 90 per cent chance that colorectal cancer can be cured when caught early through regular, repeated screening.

The Giant Colon offers a rare look inside the body, and at the same time provides healthy lifestyle tips and explanations of diseases of the colon to visitors, including colorectal cancer. The Giant Colon Exhibit is owned and operated by the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada.

QUOTES

"The Giant Colon exhibit brings with it the message about the importance of colorectal screening and how it saves lives. When people receive proper screening, the rates of colorectal cancer decline, so I urge Ontarians to visit the Giant Colon and learn more about this preventable disease."

- Terrence Sullivan, President and CEO, Cancer Care Ontario

"It is important to remember that screening means having a test when a person feels perfectly well and is not experiencing any symptoms. The Giant Colon Exhibit encourages Ontarians aged 50 and older, or those who have a family history, to speak to their physician about regular colorectal cancer screening. The time is now."

- Dr. Linda Rabeneck, Regional Vice President, Cancer Care Ontario and Medical Director, ColonCancerCheck Program

"As a colorectal cancer survivor, I hope to spread the message about the importance of regular screening for this treatable and preventable disease. The Giant Colon is an entertaining exhibit that I hope will save lives by encouraging more people to get properly screened for colorectal cancer."

- Jean Loffelhardt, Colorectal Cancer Survivor

QUICK FACTS

    
    -   If you are 50 years of age or older or have a family history of
        colorectal cancer, you should talk about colorectal cancer screening
        options with your family health care provider.

    -   Studies show that regular screening with FOBT every two years for
        average risk individuals aged 50 to 74 can reduce deaths from
        colorectal cancer by 16 per cent.

    -   A simple home screening test called a Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)
        is available at no charge for average risk individuals from family
        health care providers. Ontarians without a family health care
        provider can contact INFOline at 1-866-410-5853.
    

LEARN MORE

Find out more about ColonCancerCheck, visit www.coloncancercheck.ca

Find out more about Cancer Care Ontario, visit www.cancercare.on.ca

Find out more about the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada., visit www.colorectal-cancer.ca

Find out more about the Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program, visit http://www.tc-rcp.on.ca/

For further information: or to arrange an interview, please contact: Julia Alter or Marsha Knoll, [phone], [email protected], [email protected]