Florida Cancer Specialists in Fort Myers is offering residents of all ages an unforgettable tour of the human colon.
A giant, inflatable colon will sit in the specialists’ office at 8931 Colonial Center Drive for adults and children to explore the inner workings of the last stop in the human body’s digestive track.
The super colon, a 20-foot-long and 8-foot-high inflatable organ, is open to the public from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
“People walk through it and it shows different colon diseases,” Robin Watson said. “The purpose of the event is to educate people not only on colon cancer but other types of cancer.”
The event will be held inside and raise awareness of colorectal cancer risks. People can learn about the risks, symptoms, prevention and early detection of colorectal diseases. Those on the tour can see the difference between healthy and diseased tissue.
Colon cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, according to Florida Cancer Specialists, because every year 150,000 new cases are diagnosed.
One in 19 people will develop colon cancer in their lifetime and 50,000 people will die in the United States from it this year.
On the other hand, this type of cancer is the easiest to detect and treat.
“It is the most highly treatable cancer, if you treat it early,” said Watson. “We wanted to bring it to the community.”
Watson said this is the first time Florida Cancer Specialists is employing an inflatable organ to educate people about health risks. The center could not get the colon for National Colon Cancer Awareness Month in March.
For additional information on preventing cancer, visit: www.preventcancer.org.