Mercy offers events to raise colorectal cancer awareness

Inflatable Strollin’ Colon display is interactive, educational

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women in this country, but it is preventable and treatable if caught early. March is designated as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month by the American Cancer Society. To help raise awareness and promote prevention of the disease, Mercy’s Hall-Perrine Cancer Center is offering two upcoming events.  Both are free and open to the public.

March 16-19:
Interactive display:  Walk through the 12-foot Strollin’ Colon display

Mercy’s Hall-Perrine Cancer Center is once again bringing an inflatable, interactive replica of a human colon – big enough to walk through – to Cedar Rapids.  The display is designed to educate people about the risks, symptoms, prevention, early detection and treatment options for colorectal cancer.

Designed like a tunnel, the 12-foot-long by 8-foot-high Strollin’ Colon will be on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, March 16 through Thursday, March 19, in the atrium of Mercy’s Hall-Perrine Cancer Center.  The display will be open for extended hours, until 7:30 p.m., on Wednesday, March 18.

Visitors can walk through, at no charge, to get a close-up look at what normal colon tissue looks like, as well as seeing other diseases of the large intestine, colon polyps and colorectal cancer.  Mercy’s Digestive Health Center nurses will lead the tours and answer questions.

The Strollin’ Colon display primarily targets those 50 and older to encourage colorectal screening. Other audiences include those under 50 who are not typically aware of the need for colorectal cancer screening, have a family history of colorectal cancer and have never been screened.  Several area schools have scheduled field trips and will be bringing students to see the display.

March 18 at 5:30 p.m.:
Program:  Colorectal Cancer:  Signs, Symptoms and Screening

Join fellowship-trained colorectal surgeon Imran Hassan, MD, FACS, FASCRS, Mercy General Surgery Clinic, and Vincent Reid, MD, FACS, oncology surgeon, Hall-Perrine Cancer Center, to learn more about the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer, and hear from two survivors as they share their personal stories. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions to address their risk for developing colorectal cancer. The program begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center.  Registration is not required.

For more information on both events, call (319) 365-HOPE.