Giant inflatable colon stops at West Kentucky Community and Technical College to educate about colon cancer
To continue raising awareness about colon health, the 20-foot long inflatable “Incredible Colon” stopped at West Kentucky Community and Technical College after a stay at Baptist Health Paducah. The exhibit shows what a colon looks like from the inside at various stages of health.
West Kentucky Community and Technical College is playing host to a giant inflatable colon as a way of teaching the public about the risks of colon cancer and how to spot it. Previously on display at Baptist Health Paducah in Kentucky, this interactive and inflatable colon will allow visitors to walk through a representation of a human colon to see what it looks like.
The “Incredible Colon” is 20 feet long and transitions between a healthy colon on one end to a colon that is showing symptoms of colon cancer, such as polyps. As visitors make their way to the far end of the colon, they will be able to see what advanced-stage colon cancer looks like. In addition to cancer symptoms, the “Incredible Colon” also shows what symptoms of other diseases, such as Crohn’s Disease, look like, from the inside.
Angie Timmons, who works at the Kentucky Cancer Program as a cancer control specialist, spoke with the Messenger-Inquirer about the exhibit along with Baptist Health Paducah Marketing and Public Relations Specialist Amanda King. They stated the importance of educating Kentucky residents to the risks of colon cancer by noting that colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of death in men and women when cancer is involved. They also noted that Kentucky has the most colon cancer cases of any state in America regardless of age. Though, when colorectal cancer is detected early, it is up to 90% curable.
The importance of educating the public to the risks and signs of colorectal cancer informed the decision to continue the exhibit at West Kentucky Community and Technical College, which began to host the “Incredible Colon” on March 14. Colorectal health experts will be on site to offer additional information to visitors.
A video previewing the exhibit can be found on WKCTC's Facebook page.
West Kentucky Community and Technical College has a range of healthcare-related degree programs such as Nursing, Surgical Technology, Radiography, and more.