Inside Colon: raising awareness
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and lethal malignancies in Western countries. It is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second cancer with the highest mortality rate in Europe. Importantly, an increase in CRC incidence in young adults (individuals below 50 years of age) has been observed in different parts of the world, such as the USA and Australia. CRC is one of the few cancers that can be prevented through regular screening. Screening is crucial because when found early, CRC is highly treatable. Therefore, building awareness is extremely important to increase screening rates and decrease mortality.
The colon is the home to trillions of bacteria and fungi, all making up your gut microbiome. These bacteria are essential for your everyday life, and we need many of them to survive. They contribute to digesting our food and harvesting nutrients, as well as fighting off infection and playing a role in our immune system. The gut microbiota has the ability to break down non-digestible substrates like dietary fibers. However, some microbes can have a detrimental effect as well, particularly if a tumor is present.
“Discover the inside of your colon – Boosting cancer prevention“
This event gave the opportunity to the public to learn about the latest research on the principles of cancer development, as well as the potential role of the microbiome in tumor development.
An Art and Science competition for High-School Children
Art and Science intersect in multiple ways. Scientists regularly use art to share their knowledge with others and artists are often inspired by science. To maximize the impact of the project and involve high school students, a science and art competition was set up in the second semester of the 2021/22 academic year.
World Family Doctor Day 2023
The Association des Médecins en voie de spécialisation (ALMEVS) used the giant colon for the World Family Doctor Day event scheduled on May 19th at the Place d’Armes in the city center of Luxembourg.
Donations
Donate to support colon cancer research at the University of Luxembourg:
University of Luxembourg
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Major: Colon cancer research