Danbury Hospital Sponsors Colorectal Health Expo

DANBURY — Danbury Hospital will host a Colorectal Health Expo featuring “Coco, The Colossal Colon,” Friday–Sunday, June 25–27, at the Danbury Fair Mall in the Center Court during mall hours.

The event features the Connecticut debut of a 40-foot long, 4-foot high replica of a colon to promote digestive health. A press conference at noon on Friday, June 25, will include physicians, nurses and other health care staff from Danbury Hospital.

Sponsored by the Endoscopy Unit at Danbury Hospital, Danbury Office of Physician Services-Gastroenterology and the Praxair Cancer Center, this public awareness effort to prevent colorectal cancer is aimed at spreading the word that knowing the symptoms and obtaining regular screenings can save lives. The event highlights the public education campaign to prevent colon cancer begun in Danbury by Joseph Fiorito, MD, and the hospital’s section of gastroenterology more than five years ago.

“Colorectal cancer is a very serious disease, but no one wants to talk about it,” said Dr Fiorito, chief of gastroenterology and medical director of the Endoscopy Unit. “We had to be creative in our approach.”

“Colon cancer is preventable,” said Stuart Bussell, MD, director of the Danbury Hospital Colorectal Cancer Program. “We just have to help patients overcome the fear of colonoscopies.” According to Dr Bussell, health care professionals still consider a colonoscopy to be the “gold standard” for screening for colon and rectal cancers. Precancerous polyps can be detected and removed during this simple procedure, he said.

The Colossal Colon is the creation of Molly McMaster, a colon cancer survivor, with the help and support from the clinical and educational staff of the C.R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital in Glens Falls, N.Y. She will be at the Expo on Sunday, June 27.         

Ms McMaster was diagnosed with colon cancer on her 23rd birthday. The Colossal Colon is dedicated to the memory of her friend Amanda Sherwood Roberts, who lost her battle with colon cancer at age 27.

The Colossal Colon was designed and built by Adirondack Scenic, Inc, a custom design and fabrication company. For more information about Ms McMaster or about the Colossal Colon, visit www.colossalcolon.com.

Staff from the hospital’s Endoscopy Unit, Praxair Cancer Center, Danbury Office of Physician Services-Section of Gastroenterology, Ann’s Place, The Home of I Can, and the American Cancer Society will offer educational “stations” for colon and rectal anatomy, colorectal cancer prevention, and early detection and treatment.

Other supporting organizations include Olympus America, Inc, Astra Zeneca, TAP Pharmaceuticals, Schwarz Pharmaceutical, Fleet Pharmaceutical, Boston Scientific/Microvasive, and Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Individual exhibits will include risk assessment and awareness, diet and nutrition, signs and symptoms, screening facts and information, and treatment and survivorship. This family friendly event will provide mall visitors with an “experience” to learn about their bodies and steps to take to promote good digestive health. They also will learn about risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment options.

In addition to comprehensive services for colon cancer at its Praxair Cancer Center, Danbury Hospital launched a Colorectal Cancer Program last year to enhance care standards and educate the community about the importance of screening — colonoscopy — to prevent colorectal cancer.

For information about Danbury Hospital’s Colorectal Health Expo featuring “Coco, The Colossal Colon®,” colorectal health, or other Danbury Hospital health and wellness programs, visit the hospital online at www.danburyhospital.org or call the Community Relations Department at 797-7247.