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Colossal Colon, Polyp Man Aimed at Increasing Screening
Tom Reynolds
Increasing public awareness of colorectal cancer screening could be a crucial step to reduce the impact of the disease. And what better way to call attention to the bowels and their health, the Colon Cancer Alliance asks, than by trucking a 40-foot plastic colon across the country?
The Colossal Colon is the brainchild of colon cancer survivor Molly McMaster. In Marchthe fourth annual Colorectal Cancer Awareness Monththe exhibit embarked on a 20-city tour that will run through October. Modeled from actual colonoscopy footage, the 4-foot-high model of a human colon features healthy colon tissue, colon disease, polyps, and various stages of colon cancer. The exhibit explains what the colon does and provides information on colorectal cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship. Tour dates for the Colossal Colon, which is sponsored by the alliance and 50 collaborating partners, are available at http://www.crfa.org/colossalcolon/.

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Colossal Colon founder Molly McMaster crawls through the 40-foot-long model of a human colon. The exhibit is on a 20-city tour around the United States.
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In January 2002 the American Cancer Society and the Ad Council teamed up to create Polyp Man, a "comic-book-style super-villain" portrayed by an actor wearing a padded red polyp suit. Polyp Man, who is chased down by doctors in a series of humorous TV public service spots, will be more superhero than villain to cancer screening advocates if he achieves his goal of raising public awareness of the disease and its prevention. The campaigns tag line: "Get the test. Get the polyp. Get the cure."

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In a public service announcement, Polyp Man is apprehended by two doctors. The campaign debuted last year during Colon Cancer Awareness Month.
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In a more traditional effort, the Colon Cancer Alliance is sponsoring a two-day, 40-mile Colon Cancer March from Leesburg, Va., to Washington, D.C. The walk, which will begin on October 18 and draw an expected 2,000 walkers, is billed as the first large-scale, annual outdoor fundraising event in the fight against colorectal cancer. Proceeds of the march will benefit the Colon Cancer Alliance and other cancer service and research organizations.