Last October, Toronto rapper and actor Bishop Brigante announced that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer and peritoneal cancer.
In the midst of intense chemeotherapy, Brigante has found the strength to launch several initiatives geared towards spreading awareness and raising money for cancer research. After launching the “Fight Ribbon” collection through his clothing line, The Ends, at the beginning of January, Brigante closed out the month by launching what is arguably his most important project to date.
On January 26, Brigante started a petition titled “Lowering the Age Criteria for Colonoscopy Testing to Save Lives,” highlighting his own experiences with colorectal cancer, and how earlier testing could have prevented him from needing the treatment he does today. The current age criteria states that people between the ages of 50-74 should have regular screenings.
The petition, accessible at Change.org, aims to raise awareness about the importance of early colonoscopy testings for the prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer.
“Our petition aims to advocate for the lowering of the age criteria for colonoscopy screening from 50 to 30, specifically for men. By starting screening at an earlier age, we can potentially detect and treat colorectal cancer in its early stages, significantly improving survival rates and reducing the burden of this devastating disease.”
With an impressive 15K signatures already garnered, the petition underscores the growing urgency felt by the public to reevaluate the current age criteria for testing. And if you look at the concerning data recently published, a growth in public concern wouldn’t come as a surprise.
Just two days before Brigante started the petition, the National Post published an article looking at how the “increase in colorectal cancers in Canadians under 50 could be accelerating.” The article, written by Sharon Kirkey, states that a global study found “‘early-onset’ cancers — cancer diagnosed in people under 50 — increased by 79 per cent, and the number of deaths from those cancers by 28 per cent, over three decades.”
Specific to Canadian health, “between 1983 and 2012, rates of cancer among the under 50s increased significantly at 13 cancer sites: colon, rectum, bone, breast, connective and soft tissue, uterus, gallbladder, kidney, esophagus, pancreas, testis and thyroid.”
And to highlight the importance of Brigante’s petition: “The most dramatic increase involved colon and rectal cancers in the 20 to 39 age group. Among 20 to 24 year olds, the rates increased annually by four to six per cent.”
Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels
Along with the petition, Brigante has already conducted several interviews to discuss the importance of the cause, and continues to dedicate his time to spreading awareness through social media, and other platforms.
His campaign highlights the correlation between early screenings and increased chances of survival, which he hopes will encourage health authorities to consider lowering the recommended age for colonoscopy tests. Ultimately, Brigante’s petition resonates with a diverse audience, addresses a critical healthcare issue and could potentially save a ton of lives. It’s reason enough for health care officials to at least consider the new reports and think of what’s best for Canadians.
According to an article published on JAMA Network, a cohort study which used Canadian national cancer registries data from “all 688 515 incident colorectal cancers diagnosed from 1969 to 2015,” saw an increase among young adults which is possibly still accelerating. “The incidence of colorectal cancer among younger adults increased from 2006 to 2015 among men with an annual percentage change of 3.47% and from 2010 to 2015 among women with an annual percentage change of 4.45%.”
Please consider taking a few minutes to sign the petition to help make a difference.
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