Have a colonversation: you may save a life

The Partnership joins with partners across the country urging Canadians to talk to friends and family about the importance of colon cancer screening during March – Colon Cancer Awareness Month – and all year round.

“Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canada. In 2012, 5,000 men and 4,200 women were expected to die from it^[1],” says Dr. Heather Bryant, the Partnership’s Vice-President of Cancer Control. “But through screening colorectal cancer can often be found early, while it can still be treated successfully. Screening saves lives.”

The website www.colonversation.ca provides resources to help spread the word. Produced in partnership with the National Colorectal Cancer Screening Network, it explains who should consider being screened and how the tests are done, and gives tips on how to start a “colonversation” with your doctor, friends or family. It also has multimedia resources such as Five Feet of Fabulous:

Pan-Canadian Cancer Strategy

Cancer screening is a priority area of the Partnership’s strategic plan. In addition to the National Colorectal Cancer Screening Network and other colorectal screening-related initiatives, the Partnership supports population-based screening initiatives related to breast and cervical cancer.

Notes

^[1] Canadian Cancer Society’s Steering Committee on Cancer Statistics. Canadian Cancer Statistics 2012. Toronto, ON: Canadian Cancer Society; 2012. Table 1.2.