NORFOLK, Va. - Visitors to the Eastern Virginia Medical Campus likely did a double-take Wednesday morning after catching a glimpse of a giant inflatable colon.
The 14-foot inflatable colon was set-up on the lawn in front of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital by Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) to remind people how important it is to get tested.
According to EVMS officials, Colon Cancer is the second-leaded cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women. Unfortunately though, one in three adults don't get tested.
Dr. Cynthia Romero, Director of the EVMS Brock Institute, tells News 3 the goal of the inflatable colon is to start conversation in the community and make people aware of the importance of screenings.
"If they are at the right age, so age 50 or if they have family history of colon cancer, then this is the appropriate time to talk to their doctors about getting screening," Dr. Romero stated.
EVMS says many people are afraid of the required colonoscopy to get screened, so they hoped the inflatable colon would help ease some of the fears.
Visitors to the giant colon were able to walk through the interactive exhibit, which depicted good, bad, health and non-healthy polyps. It also included explanations of normal colon tissue, Crohn's disease and colon cancer.
