On Saturday March 9, the Prevent Cancer Super Colon visited the Walnut Square Mall in the small, charming town of Dalton, GA. Our exhibit brought in over 700 shoppers who were thrilled at the opportunity to step inside a giant colon! Shoppers of all ages were in awe as they looked at the different colon disorders, polyps and various stages of colon cancer. My three most memorable moments of the day were:
- Watching the reaction of shoppers as they tried to figure out what this huge, inflatable, red thing was.
- Giving a tour of our colon exhibit to teens who were really interested in knowing more about colon cancer.
- Meeting generations of families who have been touched by colon cancer.
Father brings his three sons to the Prevent Cancer Super Colon to learn about colon health!
The day was full of many curious looks and interesting comments and questions as both adults and children approached the Prevent Cancer Super Colon situated in the center court of the mall. Several onlookers asked if our exhibit was a brain and the kids wondered if it was a moon bounce. I was particularly moved by how intrigued the teen visitors were and impressed with the thoughtful questions they had about colon cancer.
As with every stop the Prevent Cancer Super Colon makes, there were many survivors and families of loved ones lost to cancer who visited throughout the day. One of the survivors was a mother named Corrina who was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer at the young age of 38. When it comes to advocating for the importance of knowing your family history of cancer, Corrina not only talks the talk, but she also walks the walk, as she brought her daughters to visit the educational exhibit so that they too could understand the importance of cancer screening and colon health. Corrina also knows that her daughters will need to begin screening at a younger age since she herself was diagnosed before the age of 50. Colorectal cancer screening typically begins at age 50 for those at average risk of colorectal cancer, but people with a family history of colon cancer or polyps should talk with their doctor about getting screened at an earlier age.
Doctors & nurses from Hamilton Health answer questions about colon cancer
Volunteers from Dalton’s Hamilton Health, including nurses and doctors, were on-sight to answer questions regarding colorectal cancer symptoms and refer visitors to medical centers that provide colorectal cancer screenings. These enthusiastic volunteers were a great resource for the local families visiting the exhibit.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation would like to thank Hamilton Health Care for inviting us to their community and helping us share the life-saving message of colorectal cancer awareness and screening!
Check out this video of Corrina, a Colon Cancer Survivor, who visited the Prevent Cancer Super Colon with her daughters to teach them the importance of knowing your family history.
No Comments