Kiser Colon Raises Awareness About Colon Cancer

Health officials want to bring awareness to the serious problem of colon cancer in Appalachia and our area.

To do so, the Muskingum County Academy of Science and Cancer Concern Coalition set up the 8 foot by 20 foot Kiser Colon in the Colony Square Mall. The Kiser Colon is named after Tina Kiser who worked to raise awareness about colon cancer before dying from the disease in 2008. Health officials say colon cancer is completely preventable if you get regular screenings.

"If you can catch the polyps before they turn into cancer they can be taken out right as your having a colonoscopy. So you are preventing it right there as you are being screened for early detection," says Leighanne Hehr with the American Cancer Society.

Hehr says the Kiser Colon helps show adults what polyps are and how eating healthy can help prevent colon cancer.

"A lot of it is related to health and lifestyle issues, like eating right, exercising, we know those are two things you can do to prevent colon cancer ," says Hehr.

Southeastern Med offers free colonoscopies to those who are uninsured or under insured. To receive more information on colon cancer call the Cancer Registry at Southeastern Med at 740-439-8156.