Empty chairs at Antwerp’s central square symbolise toll of colorectal cancer

The non-profit organisation Stop Darmkanker (Stop Colorectal Cancer) has on Monday morning filled Antwerp’s Grote Markt, the city’s central square, with 248 empty white chairs. Each chair symbolises someone who died in Belgium last month as a result of colorectal cancer. The action concludes the annual campaign month around the fight against the disease.

Since several years, March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, which raises awareness about the disease, its high number of victims and the importance of early detection. In Flanders, the Bevolkingsonderzoek Darmkanker (Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme) sends everyone between 50 and 74 years old an invitation every two years with a free stool test, but there is still a large group that does not respond to that invitation.

“Eight funerals a day, that's too many empty chairs at the table”

This year, on the last day of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Stop Darmkanker held a symbolic action in front of Antwerp’s city hall. With the action, the non-profit wants to once again point out the enormous impact of the disease on our society and the large number of - often avoidable - fatalities.

Powerfully visualised

“The 248 empty chairs are a salute to the people who died in March from the effects of colorectal cancer,” said Dominique Vandijck of the organisation to VRT NWS. In this way, the impact of the disease is powerfully visualised. “Every month, colorectal cancer takes a heavy toll,” added Vandijck. “Eight funerals a day, that's too many empty chairs at the table.”

The non-profit organisation urges people to get tested as early as possible. “Colorectal cancer is fortunately easy to detect early,” explained Vandijck. “The disease starts with a small polyp and it often takes eight to ten years before it develops into a tumour.”

^{#FlandersNewsService | Empty chairs put at Antwerp’s central square symbolise the toll of colorectal cancer in Belgium, as part of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month © BELGA PHOTO TIJS VANDERSTAPPEN / ​ © BELGA VIDEO TIJS VANDERSTAPPEN}

Related news

New pancreatic and colorectal cancer therapy developed at UAntwerp

Researchers at the University of Antwerp are developing a new pancreatic and advanced colorectal cancer therapy. These two cancers are challenging...

belganewsagency.eu

Record number of cancer diagnoses but survival rates continue to rise

Last year, 78,416 people in Belgium were diagnosed with cancer, the highest number in a decade, according to new figures from the Belgian Cancer...

belganewsagency.eu