Front Royal — Visitors to Warren Memorial Hospital this week were greeted by an unusual sight in the lobby: a walk-through, oversized inflatable colon designed to show the difference between a healthy colon and one affected by disease.

The display was part of an outreach effort by Valley Health tied to National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March. The inflatable exhibit travels to different locations to help educate the public about colon cancer screening and prevention.

“It’s obviously a visual reminder,” said Susan Lessar, Valley Health’s Vice President, Operations and Oncology Service Line. “The new recommendation for colon cancer screening is 45. So 45 is the new 50.”

Health officials say the change reflects a rise in colorectal cancer diagnoses among younger adults. Screening, they emphasize, is key to catching problems early.

Dr. Trey Mathews, a general surgeon, said most colonoscopies show normal tissue, but the procedure allows doctors to identify and remove polyps before they become dangerous.

“Prevention is the mainstay of colonoscopies,” Mathews said. “If we can find them early and remove these potentially precancerous polyps, we can prevent them from turning into colon cancer.”

Inside the inflatable exhibit, visitors can see examples of conditions doctors look for during a colonoscopy, including inflammation, diverticulosis, benign polyps and malignant growths.

Mathews said colorectal cancer risk is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, diet, exercise and overall health.

“There’s not one cause,” he said. “Knowing the symptoms and recognizing if you’re at risk is definitely important.”

The exhibit was displayed at Warren Memorial Hospital for about a week and is also used at community events, including Valley Health’s wellness festivals, to encourage more people to get screened.

Health officials recommend that adults begin regular colon cancer screening at age 45, or earlier for those with certain risk factors.

Edited by Dan McDermott.