Saint Joseph Berea Brings Giant-Size Colon Display to Colon Cancer Prevention Event - Archived

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Katie Heckman, Manager, Community Relations
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Saint Joseph Berea Brings Giant-Size Colon Display to Colon Cancer Prevention Event

Berea, Ky. (March 21, 2016) — Through early detection treatment, the rate of colon cancer deaths can be significantly reduced. To raise awareness of the importance of regular and early screenings, Saint Joseph Berea, part of KentuckyOne Health, will have its inflatable colon on display at the Saint Joseph Berea Colon Cancer Prevention Event. The event will take place Monday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the front lawn at Saint Joseph Berea.
 
Kay Mullins, RN, and Mitzi Alexander, RN, both with Saint Joseph Berea, will be on hand to provide colon cancer awareness education and to give a tour of the inflatable colon on the hospital’s front lawn. Educational information about healthy diets and colon screenings will also be available.
 
The giant-size colon is 20 feet long, 12 feet wide and 10 feet tall. It allows people to walk through and see the types of issues a physician looks for during screenings, such as polyps along the lining of the colon.
 
Colorectal cancer is especially prevalent in Kentucky, with incidence rates above the national average. In 2013, Kentucky ranked fourth in the nation for colon cancer deaths. The goal of the display is to reduce the rate of colon cancer deaths by helping people understand the importance of screenings.
 
Because individuals in the early stages of colorectal cancer often do not experience any symptoms, regular screenings are critical to catching the cancer before it reaches advanced stages or spreads to other areas. According to the CDC, colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, and at least 60 percent of deaths from this cancer could be avoided if those aged 50 years or older had regular screening tests.
 
Screening for colorectal cancers is simple and widely available. Most screenings search for potentially cancerous polyps (abnormal cell growths on the inside lining of the colon or rectum). If polyps are removed before they become malignant, cancer can be avoided altogether.
 
Colonoscopy, the most common method of screening, allows physicians to identify potentially problem-causing polyps and remove them at the same time. Colon screening is a short procedure that takes about an hour to complete. Screening is generally recommended every five to ten years. Individuals with a family history of colon cancer may need earlier and more frequent screenings.
 

About KentuckyOne Health
KentuckyOne Health, the largest and most comprehensive health system in the Commonwealth, has more than 200 locations including, hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes and home health agencies in Kentucky and southern Indiana. KentuckyOne Health is dedicated to bringing wellness, healing and hope to all, including the underserved.  The system is made up of the former Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare and Saint Joseph Health System, along with the University of Louisville Hospital and James Graham Brown Cancer Center. KentuckyOne Health is proud of and strengthened by its Catholic, Jewish and academic heritages.