ARE YOU "IGNORING A GUT FEELING"?... A COMEDIAN'S TAKE

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ARE YOU "IGNORING A GUT FEELING"?..... A COMEDIAN'S TAKE.

About Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM)

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is a global initiative that
takes place annually in March, (in South Africa in April) and aims
to increase public awareness about the symptoms, detection and
prevention of Colorectal Cancer, encouraging people aged 50 years
and over, to reduce their risk of Colorectal Cancer through regular
screening examinations.

Our theme for this year's Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is
"Ignoring a Gut Feeling," and in answer to the challenge of
heightening this awareness to the public, prominent South African
comedian, David Newton, was approached to help convey this rather
sensitive topic.

David tackled this by calling a spade a spade, at the launch of
the Colorectal Cancer Comedy Evening at "On Broadway" Theatre in
Cape Town on Monday 16 March 2009. David entertained the full
house, encouraging the audience to have regular screenings.

The success of this launch has resulted in the extension of this
awareness campaign throughout 2009, with additional shows scheduled
in Cape Town on the 4 & 11 May at On Broadway, in Johannesburg from
the 19-31 May at the Civic Centre, in Grahamstown (National Arts
Festival from 2-11 July) and Cape Town in the latter half of this
year.

The hope is that the barriers and taboos related to discussing
this topic would be overcome. David Newton, a prominent comedian
and personality, has taken on this challenge of increasing public
awareness for Colorectal Cancer, as part of his Social
Responsibility project for 2009. He has decided that the best way
to approach this topic, is to laugh about it!

Yet looking at the numbers Colorectal Cancer is definitely no
laughing matter. Approximately one million new cases are diagnosed
worldwide each year. Colorectal Cancer is the third most common
cause of death from cancer across all cancer types in men and women
worldwide, killing around 700,000 people worldwide, each year.

Colorectal Cancer, also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, and
rectal cancer, can occur anywhere in the colon or rectum. Cancer
develops when the normal process of renewal among the cells lining
the bowel is interrupted. A tumour may form which, if detected at
an early stage, can be removed.

Symptoms include pain in the abdomen and rectum, unexplained
weight loss, blood in or on stools and a change in normal bowel
habits that last for longer than 6 weeks and a feeling of not
having emptied your bowel properly after a bowel motion.

Risk factors revolve around a poor diet, lack of exercise,
obesity, family history of colorectal cancer and age, with risk
increasing in people over 50.

Colorectal cancer can be managed and early detection is the key.
Identifying personal risk factors, monitoring for symptomatic
changes and undergoing screening are three ways that can help to
detect and prevent Colorectal Cancer. Colorectal Cancer screening
can detect both existing cancer and polyps (growths that may
develop into cancer over time). Regular screening has been shown to
reduce the risk of dying from bowel cancer by 16%.

Join the Facebook group (Ignoring a Gut Feeling) to show your
support, or for further information visit www.gutfeeling.co.za

Further information about Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and
the
global activities that have taken place can be found at
www.preventcancer.org/colorectal.htm and
www.europacolon.com/.

To arrange an interview with David Newton or to obtain photos,
contact:
Nushreen Coutts
Matrix Advertising
Tel: 021 426-2571
Cell: 071 497 4259.