The B.C. government unveiled a new early screening program Monday to prevent colon cancer deaths, but raised some eyebrows when its official Twitter account mistakenly sent a link to a comedic YouTube video about colorectal surgeons.
"Did you know BC is a leader in seniors fall prevention? Check it out here," tweeted @BCGovNews on Monday morning. However, instead of a news release, the link sent people to a YouTube video of Montreal comedy duo Bowser and Blue singing "Working Where The Sun Don't Shine (The Colorectal Surgeon's Song)."
The tweet was later deleted but not before other followers noticed.
@BCGovNews admitted it goofed and admirably pointed Twitter users to important links about early screening for colon cancer and preventing falls by seniors.
Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in Canada, but is 90 per cent curable if caught early. The B.C. program launches in April 2013 with a free fecal immunochemical test that patients can do at home.
B.C. Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid said the first stages of colon cancer have no symptoms, which is why finding it early is so important.
With files from The Canadian Press