Crohn's Disease Relief

Zak Hammond Gets the "Tougher than Me" Award

Hammond, who is a drummer for the band You and What Army, began boxing as a way to battle weight gain (due to medication). He began training at Donnington gym and won his first amateur fight a few months ago. The bout was described as a bloodbath and it earned “Fight of the Night” honors at the Donnington Sports and Social Club.

via larrybrownsports.com

First of all, dude is drummer in a band which is cooler than me. Now in case that wasn't enough he is fighting amateur boxing matches, which is tougher than me. Oh and by the way, he suffers from Crohn's. Oh yeah, he also fights with a colostomy bag. He must have that sucker taped down like nobody's business!

Here's a clip of his band - kind of Electronica.

A Twisted Tale - Andy Borowitz makes comedy out of a twisted colon

If you have a spare 20 minutes, listen to this podcast by Andy Borowitz on the Moth Podcast.  In it he describes how he almost died from a twisted colon, and somehow makes the story both moving and hysterically funny.  There's some rough language, so listen while the kids are elsewhere.

It's not about Crohn's, but its a story a lot of Crohnies could relate to.

Andy Borowitz on the Moth Podcast

66,000 Lives Saved a Year by Colon Cancer Screening

Fewer people are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  It shows that the number of cases slipped 3.4% from 2003 to 2007, an annual decrease of about 66,000.  The number of people dying from colorectal cancer also is declining - by 3% a year, the study finds.

via thechart.blogs.cnn.com

Great news from the CDC - Colon Cancer rates in the US are going down. I am having my colonoscopy soon - just have to get it scheduled and take a day or two off. It's no one's favorite thing to do, but once the prep is done its no big deal.

Free Book Download - Colonoscopy for Dummies

Colonoscopy For Dummies® is here to help. It is a free, easy-to-read guide about this common procedure that will teach you about what you'll need to know when preparing for your colonoscopy.

via colonoscopyfordummies.com

Salix is offering a free ebook of "Colonoscopy for Dummies." This is great because colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, and the best way to detect colon polyps that can later turn into cancer is the colonoscopy procedure.

Of course us Crohn's patients know all about colonoscopies, but this book should be a good resource for the newly diagnosed and folks getting a routine follow up. I myself am due for another colonoscopy. It's no one's favorite thing to do, but the procedure itself is no big deal - its really just the prep that is annoying.

At any rate - I think it's great that Salix is sponsoring this free book offer. They sell the Pico Salex prep kit, so they do have a vested interest, of course.