AS-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, Augusi 8, 2006 i C OMMUN\ITY t878-2881 Disease's sensitive nature a real barrier Crohn and colitis suifferers often reluctant wo get treatmnent, says local chapter volunteer By Stephanie Thiessen CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF ancy has some minor stomach cramps, but shrugs tbcm off Nas simple gas. Joe is doubled over in pain and isn't able to get out of bcd. And Christine bias just liad an cmbarrassing accident during an important meeting. Alîhough tbese people ai e ail fictional, the y portray ail t00 read sympto1ns com- rnon1ly expcnienced hv sulferers of Crobfrs discase and ulceratise colins. But. like Nancv. inany people don't knosm the symptoms -even il thcv ,re cxpcricncing thein and should bie seeking treatincint \Vbat sometinies miakes the ssvarntng signs even more dismnissise c s that tbev can corne and go. But its important to sck medical helpi nigt away> Once the damage is donc, it cant bce revcrsed. "The quickcr you gcî on it. the better succcss you'll have (witb trcatient>," said jeif Truswell. a volunteer wtb the Halton chapter of the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC). The sensitive nature of Crobns and colinis is probably one reason its not wel undersîood by the public, Truswell noted. Because symptoms can bie embarrassing, people don't talk as openly about it as they might about other diseases. And yet, roughly 170,000 Canadians suifer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a term that ,covers both Crobns disease and ulcerative colitis. Canada bas highest rate Truswell said Canada has the higbest incident rate in the world for some unknown reason. "Theres probably somneone each of us knows who has ibis disorder," hie said. KAccording to the CCFC s Web site, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitîs affect the digestive system and cause the intestinal tissue to become inflamed, form sores and bleed easily Sympto.-s of ulceratîve colitis - wbich involves ail or part of the colon - include bloody diarrhea, wbich may bie accompanied with cramps. tiredness, loss of appetite and weighî, nausea and vom- iting or a mild fever. Crohn's disease bas more varied symp- toms, tncluding the most comnion - abdominal pain - as well as decreased appetite, weighî loss and diarrhea. Other warning signs migbî include uncxplained fevers, joint pain or anemia. Crobn's involves any part of the gas- trointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. [BD can bcecxtremcly debiliîaîing, although ifs noî normally terminal. Ai ibis point. theres no knowni cure. The dîsease is mosi often diagnosed hetween the ages of 15 and 25 or 45 and 55. It can wreak havoc wiîh a suflerers self estecmn, parîîcularly %%,len ihere are "leakage issues," Tn.îswell saîd. tan be embarrassing This is especialls truc .%hei ot strikes s oung pcople, ss'o are ai aî lime in ticir lises swlîen îhcs 051t walit 10 liti n. [ruswell said- Trcatimenit can bc as miner as sniall diarv adjusimenis, but more senious cases requtire powerful medîcations. If the dîscase is advanced, surgcry mîghî bc necessary to remove the colon or diseased portion ol the bowel. -Somne people underestîmnate it, îhink- ing ifs a bit of cramping or nausca. But is a lot more tban thai," Truswell said. "Some people are practically cnippled and can't get oui of bed." Altbougb many experts believe tberes a genetie compontent, tbat basn't yeî been proven, Truswell said. "Tbey haven't pieced together wbais responsible," bie said. For the pasi 32 years the CCFC bas been workîng to bring ibese ilînesses into the public eye and raise money for research. Ibhere's some exciting researcb to find a cure," said Truswell, wbo began volun- îeening îwo years after watching îbree of bis cousins suifer from senous cases. its a nasty disease and 1 didn't want others to suifer fromi it." Eacb monîb, volunteers meet to plan events that include educational seminars and fundraising events. The foundations îwo largest fundraisers are the M&M Mesi Shops' annual barbecue and the Heel 'n' Wheel-a-Tbon, held in Burlington for the past few years. The Halton ebapter is always looking for volunteers. Those interested can caîl (905) 381-0258 or visit www.ccfc.ca. Stephanie Thiessen can bie reached at sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.com. BARRIE ERSKINE / SPECIAL TO THE CHAMPION Volunteer Jeff Truswell displays somte literature regarding Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis. W7~COGECQ ' Cogeco Cable Channel 14 Programming Schedule -Tuesday, August 8 - Monday, August 17, 2m0 liyLoCal hI.vl n "tu. -~ WfO i NU wlXM mmh.-UMoIM wip ff Lam i - mm* hm II mm mm - amw meuh b! mmTR mmi -UâMO Piqwa le! EXR lifte - i* Piqwa le! EXTR Iii. - «,MWI Piqgadil' EX www.cogeco.ca unOR RAtON STuDI Laurier Plaza 500 Launer Avenue Mîlton, ON L9T 4R3 905-878-9306