Camden Clark Medical Center Hosts Walk-Through “Strollin’ Colon” Exhibit to Promote Colorectal Cancer Screening

WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center has joined the WVU Cancer Institute and the West Virginia Mountains of Hope State Cancer Coalition to promote the statewide Colorectal Cancer Awareness campaign throughout the month of March. 

To increase awareness efforts, Camden Clark hosted a community education event focused on colorectal cancer screening, featuring the interactive "Strollin' Colon" inflatable exhibit. The walk-through display allows visitors to see and learn about colon health and the importance of early detection through a large, educational model of the colon. The exhibit demonstrates what a healthy colon looks like as well as how colon cancer and other conditions can affect colon health. 

Staff from the WVU Cancer Institute at Camden Clark were on hand March 17 and 18 to share information, answer questions, and discuss local colorectal cancer screening options while patients and members of the community visited the display. 

WVU Cancer Institute Nurse Practitioner Jo Rockhold, CNP, emphasized that colorectal cancer screening should begin at age 45, even for individuals without a family history.

“Everybody, regardless of family history, should start screening for colon cancer at the age of 45,” Rockhold said. “We’re finding more and more colon cancers in younger people. As with any cancer, the earlier we find it, the more treatable, the better the outcome." 

Rockhold also encouraged individuals to talk with their primary care provider about warning signs such as blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, or changes in bowel habits. She noted that screening often begins with non-invasive options before progressing to colonoscopy when appropriate.

In addition to screening, providers highlighted the role of modifiable risk factors, including diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol use, in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer.

Director of Cancer Services Lauren Gillian, BSN, RN, OCN, emphasized that the event aimed to both educate and reduce hesitation around screening.

“We want to take away any stigma or concerns or fears that people may have about having screenings done,” Gillian said.

Colorectal cancer remains a significant health concern in West Virginia. It is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among both men and women in the state. The lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is approximately 1 in 24 for men and 1 in 26 for women, yet it is one of the most preventable cancers with appropriate screening.

Between 2019 and 2023, an average of 1,101 West Virginians were diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year, and 424 died from the disease annually. More than 90 percent of cases occur in individuals over age 50, and over half are diagnosed at a late stage, underscoring the need for timely screening and early detection. 

Camden Clark remains committed to increasing awareness, encouraging preventive care, and improving access to screening services across the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Members of the Cancer Services team are pictured below with the Strollin' Colon display.