Sometimes a cookie really can make all the difference
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De Linde Pharmacy in Retie is selling smiling poop-shaped cookies to raise awareness about bowel cancer. With this campaign, pharmacist Isabelle Bourgeois wants to encourage customers to have their stool tested in time. "This significantly increases the chances of recovery."

The window of De Linde Pharmacy in Retie is covered with blue smiling poop emojis. "Take the test!" reads the message. Over the coming weeks, customers can buy cookies shaped like cheerful little poops. Through this light-hearted approach, the pharmacy hopes to encourage people to get screened for bowel cancer in time. "Since 2020, everyone between the ages of 50 and 74 has received a free stool test by post every two years," explains pharmacist Isabelle Bourgeois. "Polyps that may indicate bowel cancer can release blood, which can be detected through this test." With these cookies, the pharmacist hopes to encourage customers to get their stool tested. Only 1 in 2 people take the test.

The test is free for people aged 50 and over, but bowel cancer is also becoming more common among younger people. "If detected at an early stage, the chances of recovery are over 90%. With our cookie campaign, we want to break down barriers and start conversations about bowel cancer." Isabelle Bourgeois, pharmacist. "Only around 50% of stool tests are returned. That's a shame, especially since they are offered free of charge from a certain age," says Isabelle. "With our cookie campaign, we want to make the subject easier to discuss and encourage people to participate in the population screening programme in time."

"After attending a lecture by Dr Colemont, I felt inspired. As healthcare professionals, we play an important role in detecting and preventing bowel cancer. Together with my good friend Dirk Peeters, I decided to take action. He owns a cookie factory in Lille. We lost a mutual friend to bowel cancer, so he immediately got involved. That's how we ended up producing 3,000 shortbread cookies," Isabelle explains. Over the coming weeks, customers can buy the cookies at De Linde Pharmacy. They cost €5 per bag, and all proceeds will go to Stop Darmkanker, a non-profit organisation dedicated to fighting bowel cancer.