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Follow on Google News | Kiwis Asked to Give a Crap This ChristmasA bowel cancer charity in New Zealand has come up with a novel way of fighting the disease this Christmas by asking people to ‘give a crap’.
By: Cottonsoft The tongue in cheek campaign encourages New Zealanders to show they ‘give a crap this Christmas’ by talking to their loved ones about the dangers of bowel cancer. “We believe too many New Zealander’s are dying from bowel cancer due to their reluctance to talk about their symptoms,” says Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa (BBCA) CEO Megan Smith. “Our ‘I Give a Crap’ campaign aims to remove the embarrassment factor and encourage open conversation about warning signs among families and friends. “Each year this terrible disease kills more New Zealanders than breast and prostate cancer combined and four times as many as the national road toll.” In under two weeks the campaign has reached more than a million people with recognisable New Zealanders like Jurassic Park and Piano star Sam Neill, Olympic gold medallist Valerie Adams and rugby union superstars Ben and Owen Franks all lending their support in a video (https://www.youtube.com/ “One of the most effective ways to improve the outcomes of this disease is through awareness campaigns. I strongly encourage people to share our video with family and friends through their social networks. Having that conversation could potentially save the life of someone you love.” Ms Smith says. New Zealand clinical psychologist and TV personality Nigel Latta has also lent his support to the campaign. “As a psychologist and a parent, I do understand it can be difficult to discuss awkward topics, but if we continue to avoid this particular conversation, people will continue to die,” says Mr Latta. “How many of us need to lose people we love before we can bring ourselves to start talking about poo? My dad died of bowel cancer. I wish he’d talked about his symptoms sooner, because then my boys might still have their granddad.” Bowel cancer is New Zealand's second most deadly cancer, with those diagnosed only having a 55% chance of surviving more than five years. BBCA, a patient-led organisation committed to reducing the impact of bowel cancer in New Zealand through awareness, education and support, hopes to increase the survival rate to 75% through awareness campaigns. Ms Smith is thankful to the campaign’s partner, Cottonsoft, a New Zealand tissue company that manufacturesPaseo, CottonSofts, KiwiSoft and Livi. The company became an official supporter of BBCA earlier in the year after learning of a staff member’s personal connection to the disease. ends You can watch the ‘I Give a Crap’ video here: http://www.youtube.com/ Notes to the Editor · Bowel cancer is also known as colorectal cancer or colon cancer – is any cancer that affects the colon (large bowel) and rectum (back passage). · Though the standard survival rate in OECD countries is 75%, only 55% of New Zealanders with bowel cancer will survive five years beyond diagnosis. · Bowel cancer is the most common cancer affecting both men and women in New Zealand, with almost 3,000 cases diagnosed each year. · The earlier bowel cancer is caught, the easier it is to treat. Seventy-five percent of bowel cancer cases are curable if caught early. · Four times as many people die as a result of bowel cancer than road traffic accidents in New Zealand each year. · New Zealand has one of the highest death rates from bowel cancer in the developed world. About Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa (BBCA) is a nationwide, patient-led organisation committed to reducing the impact of bowel cancer on our community through awareness, education and support. The charity was founded in 2010 by a group of people affected by bowel cancer, and is supported by clinicians committed to improving bowel cancer awareness among the general public and fellow health professionals. For more information visit: www.beatbowelcancer.org.nz About Cottonsoft Limited Cottonsoft Ltd (http://www.cottonsoft.co.nz/ As a socially, economically and environmentally responsible company, a significant number of Cottonsoft retail tissue products are licenced to proudly display the Environmental Choice New Zealand (http://www.cottonsoft.co.nz/ End
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