March is Colon Cancer Awareness month and employers are being encouraged to use a casual dress code to help bring attention to the disease.
According to Matthew Del Grosso, a Regional Integrated Cancer Screening Coordination with the South East Regional Cancer Program, colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Ontario men and the test is safe, simple and painless. The ‘Call the Shots’ campaign was started to make people more aware of the risks surrounding colon cancer while encouraging them to get screened themselves. Employers are encouraged to set aside a day for staff to wear their favourite team’s jersey to prompt conversations about colon cancer.
Del Grosso says nine out of every ten people with colon cancer can be cured if it is caught early enough. The campaign is focused on men between the ages of 55 and 65 but colon cancer screening is available to all Ontarians between 50 and 74. For more information click here. The Cancer Care South East are also asking people to spread the message on twitter.