Bottoms Up - Colossal Colon Heads for Fieldays

Bottoms Up - Colossal Colon Heads for Fieldays

A colossal colon complete with dunny and sound effects isn’t your everyday Fieldays exhibit.

But the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society sees the annual ‘farmer’s roundup’ as the perfect location to talk about men’s health.

Judy Gould, Cancer Society Chief Executive, says the society’s first visit to the Fieldays is sure to turn heads.

“This is a great chance for us to look at men’s health, and in particular bowel health. Such a broad spectrum of people visit Fieldays, but it is the one time when farmers do ‘come to town’ so it’s an excellent place to talk about men and how they can better look after their health.”

The 5-metre long fiberglass colon has been shipped up from Christchurch especially for the Fieldays.

The colon, which demonstrates a cross section of the human colon or large bowel, can be crawled through, walked around or visitors can peek through its windows to see how healthy colon tissue looks, as well as learning how the bowel works.

Judy says bowel health is often an issue people, particularly men, find embarrassing or difficult to talk about but bowel cancer is the second most common form of cancer in New Zealand with 2400 people diagnosed each year and about 1100 deaths.

“New Zealand has the highest incidence of bowel cancer in the OECD and while no single factor is to blame there is increasing evidence that lifestyle, particularly physical activity and good nutrition, are important factors in prevention.”

She says the Cancer Society know there will be much ‘toilet’ humour around its exhibit.

“We hope this will provide a great environment for people to learn more about the role of nutrition and physical activity in helping maintaining good health and preventing all types of cancer but also to raise awareness of the symptoms of bowel disease and the importance of talking to your doctor if concerns arise.”

The exhibit will also feature information on other cancers and their prevention, and raise awareness about the Cancer Society’s services.

“The Cancer Society works hard in the local community to ensure people affected by cancer have access to the best possible services.

“We have a large pool of outstanding volunteers delivering our services such as driving people to their cancer treatments or dropping off frozen meals during difficult times of treatment.

“Prevention is also a vital part of our work and the society’s health promotion programmes, including tobacco control and SunSmart, teach people about reducing their risk of cancer.”

The Cancer Society will be exhibiting in the Rural Living marquee at next week’s Fieldays at Mystery Creek.

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