I took the Giant Colon tour today.  I was pretty much first in line as I arrived at the mall early before they were even finished setting up the display. The local TV station was also there getting ready to do a segment on it for tonight’s broadcast.

The Giant Colon is a “state-of-the-art” (their description, not mine), pink, inflatable, walk-through reproduction of the human colon.   The “tunnel” is 40 feet long and 8 feet high.

Inside were various posted signs listing the diseases of the colon such as Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s, Cancer and Diverticulitis with small video screens scattered throughout the tunnel describing each disease.  I watched all the short videos, featuring “Dr. Preventino”, a talking puppet, and found them to be very informative and interesting, albeit a little corny.  It was certainly geared towards the uneducated consumer.  A tour guide volunteer followed me along in case I had any questions. 

At the end, I picked up their brochures and went on my way but not before stopping at the “treat” table at the end of the tunnel.  It was filled with bottled water, cookies, chocolate bars, granola bars and other baked goods that were provided as a thank-you gift for taking the tour.  I didn’t touch it. 

That spoiled the entire tour for me.  After viewing something very informative and interesting that emphasized how to prevent the various diseases by consuming more fruits and veggies, less meat, less alcohol and stop smoking, there was a bunch of junk food at the end!  When I questioned one of the volunteers about it, she too agreed that they were not very appropriate; however, I got the impression that there wasn’t much that she could do about it.  I should go back later to see if they have changed the table.

Here in Ontario, we have one of the highest rates of colorectal cancer in the world.  Approximately 7800 are diagnosed with the disease each year and half that many will die from it.  We have an abundance of everything in this province including so many fast-food restaurants that it is difficult to choose between the many bad choices.  No wonder we are dying.

Even though the literature I picked up mentioned eating more healthy foods and making lifestyle changes, it was more heavily focused on the importance of screening techniques such as colonoscopies and fecal occult blood tests (FOBT).  My overall impression of the entire tour was that it will just scare the crap out of everyone (literally).  No one will completely understand the importance of prevention and how easily these diseases can be avoided.

March is National Colorectal Awareness Month.  This display has been making the rounds all month and finally got to us.  My opinion is that it only tells half the story as do all mainstream medical displays.  You need to do your own research and take responsibility for your own health.  Don’t count on anyone else protecting your butt. 

Janet Woods is a Doctor of Natural Medicine practising in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.