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Nov 15-16, 2018 | Paris, France
Gastroenterology and Digestive Disorders
International Conference on
Journal of Gastroenterology and Digestive Diseases | Volume 3
Why campaign against Colorectal Cancer?
Luc Colemont
Stop Darmkanker Foundation, Belgium
A
lthough we are living in an information society, too many
people today are dying from colorectal cancer due to lack
of information. This is unacceptable! Screening and prevention
are important, diagnosis and treatment are crucial, but
information and education should be the first steps in the fight
against colorectal cancer. We cannot accept any longer that this
silent killer claims lives of 580 Europeans every day. That’s the
equivalent of two airplane crashes, every day, week in week
out, year in year out. It’s not because of a lack of scientific data,
it’s not because of a lack of financial sources, but it’s purely due
to absence of societal commitment. How should we explain to
families who lost their loved ones due to colorectal cancer that
we knew the problem for many years, we knew the solution
for many years, but that bureaucracy is more difficult to treat
and beat than colorectal cancer. There can be no more excuses
not to undertake action for a disease that could be prevented.
You don’t need an army of doctors to kill colorectal cancer,
a simple 10 euros FIT-test will do the job just fine. During my
career of almost 30 years as gastroenterologist I have seen far
too many cases of colorectal cancer. My biggest frustration was
that it always came as such a shock to these people. “Why me?
How is that possible? I have a healthy lifestyle!, I had a blood
test only recently!” They knew nothing about colorectal cancer.
“By sharing knowledge, you can save lives” It should not stop
at an empty slogan. In late 2015 I decided to leave the hospital
and change career. A move from the “operating room” to the
“auditorium” to quote the national press. I became CEO of
my own foundation and with a very small team we organize
actions and campaigns the whole year around. We tour with
our giant colon. Social media are an important weapon in our
daily fight against colon cancer. Since my career switch I gave
350 keynotes all over the country, with one goal: stop colorectal
cancer. “The best campaign is the one that is done, not the one
that is discussed for many years!”
e:
luc.colemont@yahoo.com