Giant Colon Tour storms Northern Ontario after stunning Montreal debut

I always knew the Giant Colon was a winner in every way, an educational object par excellence. And I had a serious feeling it would be a success, which is why I accepted the CCAC’s offer of a job as exhibit manager... a.k.a. “The Colon Guy,” without hesitation. It may make you giggle at first, but when you get past the jokes and embarrassment, you realize how important this tool can be. Let me tell you... I now have proof how important it is.

When you are sitting at a table before the Giant Colon and people exit through the “cecum,” after entering through the anus, almost all of them with either a smile or a seriously pensive look on their faces, you know you have touched them. What I did not bargain for was the multitudes of strangers willing to share their innermost fears and tales with me. The number of times I was deeply moved by these individuals is incalculable, but of the many thousands who embarked on The Giant Colon Tour in Timmins, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie after some 6,000 Montrealers visited during its two-day kick-off here on March 18 – 19... I’d say that at least 200 of them talked to me as if I was their doctor. We hear the statistics repeatedly: One in 14 men is expected to develop colorectal cancer during their lifetime, and one in 27 will die of it... for women, the equivalent stats are one in 16 and one in 31.

But 90 percent of these individuals will survive if the cancer is caught early enough. That means you must be tested, generally with a colonoscopy first, as is the case in Quebec, or with a FOBT (fecal occult blood test), the first line of testing in Ontario, unless there is a family history of this insidious, silent killer. Until you hear the stories, however... from people who have survived the disease or have lost close family members to it... the statistics are merely numbers on paper.

My first road trip with the Giant Colon left me humbled beyond belief and proud to be part of such an important organization. I realize how many lives we are saving by our work, with offices of just six staffers in Montreal, two in Toronto, and a president who never stops working on behalf of this cause, even though he is a senior partner in a large Montreal law firm.

And to the people of Montreal, Timmins, Sudbury and the Sault, thank you for taking the time to learn something and, hopefully, to spread the word about the necessity for early CRC screening. We all have to take responsibility for our lives and it is all too easy to blame the medical profession when something goes wrong. Be aggressive and be strong... and as for being shy, would you rather be embarrassed... or dead? Seems like a no brainer to me.