Symptoms of Crohn’s & Colitis Featured in New PSA Campaign; Sufferers Urged to See Doctor for Diagnosis and Treatment
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) hopes that thousands of Americans will soon be able to put a name to their pain. A new public service announcement (PSA) campaign spells out the symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and urges sufferers to see a gastroenterologist. The campaign emphasizes that early diagnosis and treatment can mean a better quality of life for people who suffer from these debilitating digestive diseases, which affect some 1.4 million Americans.
The “Symptoms” campaign includes TV, radio and print PSAs. One radio spot, produced especially for rock music stations, features Pearl Jam’s lead guitarist Mike McCready, who has Crohn’s disease. This is the third PSA campaign supported by a gift of $1 million from the Mankoff Family Foundation of Dallas.
Two national Omnibus studies, conducted by GfK NOP in 2003 and 2005, indicated that awareness of CCFA advertising had nearly doubled since the first campaign was released in 2003. Moreover, according to Nielsen Media Research’s 2005 year-end ranking report, CCFA’s 2005 television PSA ranked in the top 10 percent of all PSAs tracked over the past year.
“All too often, people go undiagnosed for years, because they’ve never heard of Crohn’s and colitis or because they’re too embarrassed to talk about their symptoms,” said Mark Goldman, Chair of the National Board of Trustees, CCFA. “We don’t yet have a cure, but more treatment options are available than ever before, and many new therapies are in the pipeline. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can make a tremendous difference in people’s lives.”
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are painful, medically incurable illnesses that attack the digestive system. Crohn’s disease may inflame the small and large intestines, while ulcerative colitis attacks the large intestine (colon) only. Symptoms may include persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramps, rectal bleeding, fever, and weight loss. Many patients require hospitalization and surgery. These illnesses can cause severe complications, including colon cancer in patients with long-term disease. Of the 1.4 million American adults and children suffering from these terrible diseases, at least 140,000 are under the age of 18. Most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35.
About CCFA
The mission of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) mission is to cure and prevent Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis through research, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these digestive diseases through education and support. Every year, approximately 80 cents of every dollar the foundation spends goes to mission-critical programs. CCFA consistently meets the standards of organizations that monitor charities, including the Better Business Bureau (give.org) and the American Institute of Philanthropy (charitywatch.org). For more information, contact CCFA at 800-932-2423 or visit www.ccfa.org.