Geisinger kicks off Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with large, inflatable colon display

DANVILLE, Pa. -- Geisinger is bringing awareness of the importance of early detection and preventive screenings for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month through free, public events. A large, inflatable colon model will be on display at Geisinger Community Medical Center, Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center.

• Geisinger Medical Center’s Hospital for Advanced Medicine lobby on Monday, March 2 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center’s lobby on Tuesday, March 3, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• Geisinger Community Medical Center’s lobby on Wednesday, March 4, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

During the events, visitors can walk through the model to see the full anatomy of the colon, including how polyps can form. Geisinger officials will be on hand to talk to visitors about colorectal cancer risk factors and the importance of early detection. Visitors will also be able to schedule their colonoscopy appointment at the event.

“Colorectal cancer has a five-year survival rate of 90 percent when caught in its earliest stage,” said Dr. Rajiv Panikkar, M.D., chair of Geisinger’s Cancer Institute. “The more awareness we’re able to bring to the subject and make it easier for our neighbors to get preventive screenings, the better we’ll be able to improve the health outcomes in our communities.”

To learn more about colorectal cancer and risk factors, visit Geisinger.org/ColonCancer.

About Geisinger
Geisinger is among the nation’s leading providers of value-based care, serving 1.2 million people in urban and rural communities across Pennsylvania. Founded in 1915 by philanthropist Abigail Geisinger, the non-profit system generates $10 billion in annual revenues across 134 care sites - including 10 hospital campuses, and Geisinger Health Plan, with 600,000 members in commercial and government plans. The Geisinger College of Health Sciences educates more than 5,000 medical professionals annually and conducts more than 1,400 clinical research studies. With 26,000 employees, including 1,600 employed physicians, Geisinger is among Pennsylvania’s largest employers with an estimated economic impact of $14 billion to the state’s economy. On March 31, 2024, Geisinger became the first member of Risant Health, a new nonprofit charitable organization created to expand and accelerate value-based care across the country.  Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.