Edwin Wong was nearly finished his PhD in chemistry last winter when he started noticing sharp pains on the left side of his abdomen. The SFU student went to the school's health centre, and, given his family's history, it didn't take long for his doctor to recommend a colonoscopy. His dad, grandfather, and an uncle all had colon cancer. Two days before his 29th birthday, Wong learned that he, too, had the disease.

"It was a really big shock," Wong says in an interview at the Georgia Straight. "The first thing that came to mind was, 'I'm not going to graduate.' I had to drop all my courses."

The Winnipeg native soon had surgery to remove about 10 centimetres of his left colon, which was then reconnected. He says it took him about six months to feel "normal" again.

"I didn't know it [colorectal cancer] affects so many people," says Wong, who's now back at university. "It's the second-leading cause of death from cancer."

To help educate people about his illness, Wong will take part in the BC Cancer Foundation's second annual Underwear Affair on Saturday (July 7). The five- and 10-kilometre walk/run is a fundraiser for cancers below the waist, like colorectal, prostate, ovarian, uterine, bladder, cervical, and testicular. Together, these conditions account for 38 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer cases in British Columbia. Because of their location in the body, though, the diseases are often considered taboo, and some people are reluctant to tell their doctors about symptoms because they're embarrassed.

"I want to bring it out in the open because people don't like to talk about it," Wong explains. "I'm not uncomfortable talking about it, but it seems to make other people uncomfortable."

According to the BC Cancer Agency, about 2,600 British Columbians were diagnosed with colorectal cancer last year, up from 2,300 in 2003. The Canadian Cancer Society reports that in 2005, approximately 8,500 people across the country died because of colorectal cancer. The same organization states that men have a one in 14 chance of developing the disease, while women have a one in 16 chance. About half of those who are diagnosed can expect to be cured, according to the BC Cancer Agency.

Symptoms of colorectal cancer include a change in bowel habits (like persistent constipation or diarrhea), blood in the stool, lower abdominal or pelvic pain, abdominal bloating, pain in lower back, anemia, weight loss, and weakness, according to the agency's Web site (www.bccancer.bc.ca/).

No one knows what causes colorectal cancer, but it's associated with a diet low in fibre and calcium and high in protein and fat. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are predisposing factors, and one in a hundred patients has a family background of polyps. There is a genetic test available for those who have a family history of the disease. (Wong's younger brother had the test, and he carries the defective gene associated with colon cancer.)

Early detection of colon and rectal cancers is essential for successful treatment, and some doctors recommend all patients over 50 have yearly testing of stool samples as well as a rectal exam. Abnormalities are then followed up with a colonoscopy (a test in which a long, flexible tube with a light and camera lens at the end is used to examine inside the large intestine), a barium enema (in which a patient is given an enema of a white, chalky solution that contains barium sulfate, which makes abnormalities in the intestine easier to see in X-rays), or both. Furthermore, according to the BC Cancer Agency, men and women at high risk for colorectal cancer should have regular exams starting as early as age 20. (Wong will have a colonoscopy every year.) People are also advised to follow a diet low in fat and high in fibre.

"I always thought that I didn't take things for granted," Wong says. "I knew I was lucky to be able to afford school and to live in a good home and have good food, but I never really thought about my health. I definitely eat differently now. I eat way more fruits and vegetables and fibre than I did before; I eat healthier in general. I exercise a lot more than I used to. And I try to keep major stresses out of my life."

Participants in the Underwear Affair are encouraged to strip down and race in their pyjamas, boxers, tighty whities, leopard-print G-strings, or lingerie–whatever is comfortable (as well as socks and proper running shoes). After the 6 p.m. race, they'll let loose and dance at the EXPOsed after party at the Rocky Mountaineer Station (1755 Cottrell Street, behind the Home Depot off Terminal Avenue). Last year's inaugural event raised $500,000, with money going toward prevention and early-detection programs at the BC Cancer Agency for below-the-belt cancers. (More details on the race are at www.uncoverthecure.org/).

Cervical cancer is the second most common type of gynecological cancer in North America, with nearly 140 women in B.C. being diagnosed last year. However, it's one of the easiest cancers to diagnose (with a Pap test) and to treat in its early stages. There are usually no symptoms early on, according to the BC Cancer Agency, but later women might experience bleeding between periods or after sex, painful intercourse, a foul-smelling vaginal discharge, pelvic or back pain, or urine leakage.

Risk factors include having sex before age 18 and with multiple partners, smoking, and a history of genital warts due to the human papilloma virus.

Testicular cancer is not that common but tends to strike men aged 15 to 35. Few benign tumours are found in the testes, so the BC Cancer Agency recommends that all lumps be checked immediately. Besides a painless lump in one of the testicles, other signs are an enlarged testicle or a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. Self-exams should be done monthly.

More information on underwear cancers is at the BC Cancer Agency's comprehensive Web site.