I’m very pleased with that; the first episode of Channel 4′s Embarassing Bodies series has just aired, including a short feature about living with a colostomy. It’s available to watch online here
I have to be honest, when the producers of Embarassing Bodies first got in touch, our reaction was mixed. Yes this was a great opportunity to get the topic on primetime television, but in our experience most of our interaction with the press is responding to negative and misleading stories, and with a name like Embarassing Bodies what could we expect!
Vanessa has a colostomy bag, and she gave a postive and encouraging view of what it’s like living with any type of ostomy, which makes a refreshing change. Considering 22,000 people every year have surgery for a colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy it’s about time the media gave a bit more positive coverage to this very common condition. It was also helpful to see someone talking openly about their surgery who isn’t the traditional elderly stereotype.
Interestingly the programme narrator suggested that a colostomy is often more embarrassing to the general public than the people that actually have one. This is reflected by the people which call our Helpline, who understandably feel isolated or have difficulty coming to terms with their stoma because of this stigma.
That was one of the key reasons for our ostomy Underwear & Swimwear Show, and Positive Living has been the underpinning of everything Ostomy Lifestyle does. I think Embarassing Bodies has a positive agenda, and although the shock-factor name will probably draw voyeurs in their millions I expect many people will have a greater understanding of their own bodies and what stoma surgery may mean for them.
As Vanessa quite aptly put it “it’s a bag or a box” which brings home the reality of such a lifesaving operation. Hopefully it will also get more people supporting our charity, making sure we can provide those people who feel unable to cope or afraid with the resources and support that help maintain a positive lifestyle, as Vanessa shows.
