Giant inflatable colon spreads awareness for colon cancer

GLASGOW, Ky.-March is Colon Cancer Awareness month, and News 40 wants you to take a look at this giant inflatable colon. 

TJ Sampson had a 10-foot wide, and 20 foot long inflatable colon exhibit earlier today, free to the public. 

People could walk through the large scale model of the human colon and learn about various colon issues in a hands-on and interactive way including Crohn’s disease, polyps, and colon cancer.  

Colon cancer typically affects men and women over 50, but new cases are occurring at an increasing rate in younger adults. The screening age is now 45.  

“If you lower the screening age to 45, people can be screened earlier and hopefully those cancers can be detected earlier,” said Kentucky Cancer Program Cancer Control Specialist Melissa Westbrook. 

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death, and the third most common cancer in the United States.