Underwear Affair brings attention to cancers 'down there'.
Team Risky Business, including Michelle Reis, left, Lauren Dibbs, Leta Malcolm and Teryn-Leigh Boissoin cross the finish line at the 2009 Underwear Affair fundraiser to benefit North York General Hospital (NYGH). The event, which takes place this year on August 28, raises money for cancers below the waist such as ovarian, bladder, prostate and testicular, with the monies going directly to patient care at NYGH.
Photo/COURTESY
Shhhh, polite people don't talk about stuff that happens "down there."
But "down there" is exactly what the organizers and participants of North York General Hospital's Underwear Affair want to draw attention to.
The hospital is holding its second annual Underwear Affair to benefit its patients affected by cancers below the waist: ovarian, bladder, prostate, colorectal and testicular.
Because these areas of the body are often considered taboo, cancers below the waist don't receive the attention they deserve, said anesthesiologist Dr. Charles Knapp, co-chairperson of the Underwear Affair.
Meanwhile, people are reluctant to have routine exams for cancers under the waist.
"People are often embarrassed. There are a lot of taboos but in reality, there shouldn't be taboos. These are real things. These are parts of our bodies," Knapp said.
"People are leery to talk about it, they're leery to go see their physician. The key is early detection and screening. People have to take active ownership of their health."
Cancers below the waist make up 40 per cent of cancers diagnosed in Canada each year.
Often, these cancers can be found and treated if a patient gets regular check-ups, Knapp said.
For example, colorectal is the second most fatal form of cancer after lung cancer. It is a very slow-moving and curable cancer if caught early but due to embarrassment, people often wait too long before seeking a diagnosis, he said.
"By the time we have symptoms for some of these things, it is often too late," Knapp added.
Patients should go for regular screenings such as pap smears for women, prostate examinations for men over the age of 40 and colonoscopies for people over the age of 50. If an immediate family member has been diagnosed with cancer, Knapp said people should begin screenings earlier.
The Underwear Affair uses humour to bring people's attention to a serious issue.
Participants in the fundraiser often take part in the five-kilometre walk or 10-kilometre run dressed in their underwear or wearing fun or outrageous costumes. Of course, casual wear is allowed as well.
"We figured it was a new angle to go. There is a lot of competition out there for fundraisers. We felt this was something that needed attention," Knapp said.
"This (Underwear Affair) is a little bit more hip, it's young, it's irreverent."
North York's Leta Malcolm has been taking part in the event since it began three years ago, the first year raising money for Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
"For me, it started (when) a friend asked me to join her team. It's a really great cause. The whole point is we don't talk about this. What better charity to go and support than one that doesn't get enough support as it is and you get to run around in your underwear?" she said.
"I'm happy and lucky I don't have to run for someone in particular. That is kind of why I run (to draw attention to prevention), so I don't have to. It's something I've always been passionate about anyway, taking care of your body top to bottom and I'm not embarrassed. It makes me free to talk about it."
Like Malcolm, Knapp hasn't been personally affected by cancers below the waist but he sees their devastation as a doctor.
"I take care of these people in the operating room every day. I see this every day at work," he said.
Underwear Affair will take place Aug. 28 at Woodbine Park at Lake Shore Boulevard and Coxwell Avenue. Registration begins at 3 p.m. and the run/walk starts at 6 p.m. An after-party runs into the night.
For more information, visit www.uncoverthecure.org