Super Colon

Super Colon to the rescue? Saint Mary's Health Care exhibit aims to save lives
03/06/2012

Published: Tuesday, March 06, 2012, 1:27 PM Updated: Tuesday, March 06, 2012, 1:54 PM
Sue Thoms | sthoms1@mlive.com By Sue Thoms | sthoms1@mlive.com

GRAND RAPIDS -- In the world of super heroes, Super Colon may not sound too impressive. It's not an alien robot that can transform at will. It's not faster than a speeding bullet.

But Super Colon has lifesaving powers that can rival any super hero, say Saint Mary's Health Care officials.

They are bringing the 20-foot-long, 8-foot-tall inflatable colon exhibit to town this week to raise awareness of colorectal cancer and to encourage people to take steps to prevent it.

Visitors can walk through the supersized colon and get information on nutrition, exercise and the benefits of having a colonoscopy.

"With the advancements in technology and research, colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers," said Coralyn Martinez, nurse navigator for the Gastrointestinal Clinic at The Lacks Cancer Center. "A screen colonoscopy can save your life, and the inconvenience of the prep is nothing compared to the benefits of survival."

Colonoscopy screenings cut the death risk from colorectal cancer in half, according to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine. But only about half of the people undergo the screenings recommended at age 50, says Dr. Paul Farr, a Saint Mary's gastroenterologist.

Visitor's information for the Super Colon: