Former CTV Ottawa anchor Max Keeping diagnosed with colorectal cancer

Nine years after he was hit with prostate cancer, Max Keeping has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He undergoes surgery next Monday, an eight-hour operation that will seriously alter the busy retired anchor’s lifestyle.

Keeping has already been told by doctors that he’ll be out of commission for a minimum of six months, but he hopes to be out in the community doing his regular charity events and fundraisers in just four. The extensive surgery will mean he’ll be carrying a second ostomy bag, but he’s determined that the after-effects from the disease will not slow him down.

“I’ve always looked at life as living today for today. That hasn’t changed,” Keeping, 70, said in an interview Monday at the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation office.

An upbeat Keeping said he was going public with his diagnosis to increase awareness of colorectal cancer, which according to statistics kills 176 Canadians every week.

In fact, Ottawa has one of the highest rates of colorectal cancer in Ontario.

Canada-wide, an estimated 23,300 Canadians will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year; 9,200 will die from it.

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