Cansa launches Colorectal Cancer Awareness Campaign with Medtronic

The Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) in Bedfordview recently launched its Colorectal Cancer Awareness Campaign in partnership with Medtronic.

Lucy Balona, Cansa head of marketing and communication, said both organisations are passionate about early diagnosis, and better treatment outcomes for patients.

“Unique to the campaign is a large ‘Colin the Colon Tunnel’, an inflatable 2x3m tunnel, which the public can walk through and be educated about colorectal cancer.

“Colin moves around at specific Cansa events and can be booked by interested schools or workplaces, and can also be activated at specific lifestyle events,” said Balona.

She added the campaign includes a booklet and an animated video with information, giving advice on lowering the risk of colorectal cancer, and promoting screening.

According to Balona, colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in men, following prostate cancer, and the third most common cancer in women, following breast and cervical cancer.

“An estimated 6 927 new cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed in South Africa in 2018, which was about 6.5 per cent of all cancers.

“More men than women were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in this same year,” says Balona.

Lungile Mvuyane, market development manager for colorectal at Medtronic, said the aim of the Medtronic and Cansa partnership is to provide colorectal cancer awareness and education.

“This is so that patients can get treated at early stages, and are offered support through Cansa’s patient care and support programmes.

“Collaboration with Cansa multiplies our efforts and improves lives.

“Medtronic is dedicated to bringing comprehensive colorectal health awareness programmes to drive early diagnosis, improve treatment outcome and optimise cost of care.

“This is to fulfil our mission to improve quality of life, alleviate pain, restore health and extend life,” said Mvuyane.

As part of the campaign, Mvuyane said the booklet contains information concerning lifestyle factors that increase the risk for colorectal cancer.

These include a lack of exercise, poor diet, smoking and regular alcohol consumption, and provides information on how men and women are able to lower their risks.

Colorectal specialist surgeon Dr Zaheer Moolla, from Netcare Umhlanga and Busamed Gateway, saw the tunnel in action.

“Colin the Colon Tunnel was really cool. Loved the pathology stuck on the bowel wall. I read through the pamphlet as well, and I think it’s concise, simple and ideal for education.

“The video was excellent,” said Moolla.

Cara Noble, Cansa national relationship manager, said this campaign aims to be interactive, and a visually compelling health experience.

“The idea is that people walk through the tunnel and see what a healthy colon looks like and get to know signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer.

“We show what a polyp looks like with health messages on the inside of the tunnel.

“Cansa staff and volunteers are present near the tunnel to conduct body mass index, BMI, height and weight and waist circumference measurements,” said Noble.

Cansa further promotes awareness and early detection of colorectal cancer by offering ‘faecal occult at home’, testing kits available for purchase at Cansa care centres.

“It’s to determine if occult blood, which is not visibly apparent, is present in stools, which may be a sign of a growth, inflammation or bleeding in the digestive system.

“If there is blood in the stool, you can take a photo of the test result and go to your nearest Cansa care centre for a referral, “said Bolona.