GLASGOW — An inflatable colon exhibit will be on display March 31 to raise awareness about colon health.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. T.J. Regional Health, in partnership with the Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening Programs, will present the exhibit free to the public. It will be set up at T.J. Health Pavilion from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The exhibit features an inflatable 10-foot-wide, 20-foot-long, and 12-foot-high colon to raise awareness about the importance of colon cancer screening.
The colon exhibit provides visitors with an interactive, educational experience of stepping through a large-scale model of the human colon. Through examples of various colon issues, children and adults will see first-hand the difference between a healthy and a diseased human colon including normal tissue, Crohn’s Disease, Diverticula, Polyposis, Polyps, Ulcerative Colitis, and Colon Cancer.
Colorectal cancer occurs most often in men and women who are older than 50, but new cases of this cancer are occurring at an increasing rate among younger adults. That’s why The American Cancer Society recommends that people who are at average risk for colorectal cancer begin regular screening for the disease at age 45.
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer death. But it doesn’t have to be this way; through screening, it is one of the most preventable diseases.
- Approximately 153,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer every year
- Colon cancer often has no symptoms until it’s at an advanced stage
- You can reduce your risk through regular screenings
- There are currently more than one million colon cancer survivors in the United States.
Talk to your Primary Care Provider about screening options and which is most appropriate based on your age and risk.