Where’s Crohn’s & Colitis (CC)?

Help us to shine a light on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in all ages by finding CC (Crohn’s & Colitis) this World IBD Day!

Over ten million people worldwide are living with IBD, which is a group of inflammatory conditions, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

IBD can appear at any point during people’s lives. Clinical research, education and understanding however do not reflect this, leaving groups of people feeling left behind and underrepresented.

Every IBD patient, no matter their age, deserves to feel understood and have access to quality care and effective treatments.

That’s why, for World IBD Day 2023, we’re showcasing IBD and its impact throughout key stages of life by asking – Where’s CC (Crohn’s & Colitis)?

Help us to shine a light on IBD by finding the CC characters. Look out for the characters wearing green CC t-shirts and click on them to learn more!

Help us to shine a light on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in all ages by finding CC (Crohn’s & Colitis) this World IBD Day!

Over ten million people worldwide are living with IBD, which is a group of inflammatory conditions, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

IBD can appear at any point during people’s lives. Clinical research, education and understanding however do not reflect this, leaving groups of people feeling left behind and underrepresented.

Every IBD patient, no matter their age, deserves to feel understood and have access to quality care and effective treatments.

That’s why, for World IBD Day 2023, we’re showcasing IBD and its impact throughout key stages of life by asking – Where’s CC (Crohn’s & Colitis)?

Help us to shine a light on IBD by finding the CC characters. Look out for the characters wearing green CC t-shirts and click on them to learn more!

About the Where’s CC? campaign

The European Federation of Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA) and Celltrion Healthcare are partnering this World IBD Day to shine a light on IBD and the underrepresented IBD patients.

The Where’s CC? campaign aims to spark conversations about the impact of IBD across people’s lives, and how these challenges vary between different age groups.

IBD has no age – but the clinical research and general awareness of the condition do not reflect this. From teenagers to the over 60s, a lack of understanding and research in specific groups of people are leaving them unable to benefit from innovative treatment options, and therefore feeling isolated.

By addressing these challenges, we can ensure ALL patients, no matter their age, have the opportunity to benefit from potentially life-changing treatments that work for their condition, but also their lifestyle.

Want to know more?

Download the Where's CC? patient resources.

Download now

About inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

IBD is an umbrella term used to describe conditions including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Collectively, IBD impacts over 10 million people worldwide.

IBD is a long-term condition and there may be times when the symptoms are severe, known as a flare-up, and times where there are no or few symptoms, known as remission. Common symptoms of IBD include pain, cramping or swelling in the belly, episodes of diarrhoea, weight loss and extreme tiredness.

IBD can appear for the first time at any age, however, diagnosis most commonly takes place between the ages of 10 and 40. Treatment for IBD can be transformative in patients’ lives, reducing the impact of the condition on their lives by minimising flare-up of symptoms and maintaining remission.

In recent years, the increased availability of new treatments has transformed IBD patient care. Innovations in treatments, including advances in treatment administration that enable people to access at-home treatment, allows people to have an improved quality of life whilst managing their condition.

People with IBD often have to commit to a treatment for years, so it’s important for healthcare professionals and patients to work together to find the best treatment for them. Increasing our clinical understanding of IBD in different age groups will support this and ensure that every person with IBD is empowered to overcome the condition and its symptoms.

Patient stories

Hear from IBD patients, Molly, Magdalena and Salvo, on the impact that the condition has had on their lives, and how advancing treatment options and awareness can support in improving people’s quality of life.

Meet CC

Our first CC

CC is a young female aged 18, living with IBD – she was diagnosed when she was 14.

CC felt embarrassed about her symptoms, particularly needing to take frequent trips to the toilet, and avoided talking to her friends and family about her condition. She slowly became isolated at school, spending less time with her friends out of fear of embarrassing situations caused by her symptoms and feeling more alone.

She needed regular time out of lessons to visit hospital to receive treatment, which took several hours at a time. Her school grades were suffering, and she couldn’t imagine booking the end-of-year festival with her friends, let alone move to a new city for university. Following conversations with her clinician, CC moved onto an at-home treatment, meaning she didn’t need to have regular time out of lessons to visit hospital to receive treatment.

She was able to successfully complete her exams without the disturbance of flare-ups and hospital trips and was given a new freedom to move away to university and travel the world just like her friends.

Our second CC

CC is a parent of two, aged 34, who is working full-time alongside raising her children. She is balancing her role at work and as a parent alongside the management of her IBD.

CC started experiencing symptoms in her early 30s. She was determined to get to the bottom of her unexplained illness, improve her health and be the best possible parent.

She was missing chunks of time from work as she struggled to control her symptoms. She worried her condition would impact her ability to be present for her children and keep her job.

After many doctors and tests, she finally received a diagnosis of IBD and found a treatment that worked for her symptoms and her lifestyle.

Her new treatment is improving this balance, meaning she hasn’t experienced a flare-up for over a year and can focus on parenthood whilst keeping on top of her working life.

Our third CC

CC is a 70-year-old retired male and has recently received a diagnosis for IBD. He didn’t seek out medical advice immediately, attributing his symptoms to getting older.

Upon eventually receiving his diagnosis, he felt left out and underrepresented as patient information and clinical advice is often focused on younger people.

CC found support with his local patient network. He has realised he is not alone, with 10% to 15% of newly diagnosed people with IBD being over the age of 60.

Due to other medical conditions that he has, linked to his age, he had concerns about starting an IBD treatment alongside the medications he was already taking. Unfortunately, because there was limited scientific data available for patients over the age of 60, he was unable to take advantage of innovative treatment options which he would have otherwise been able to benefit from.

Want to know more?

Download the Where's CC? patient resources.

Download now

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