Giant inflatable colon in Lyon
Big blow-up structure aims to raise awareness of colo-rectal cancer and the free screening available to over-50s
A LARGE pink inflatable colon is being set up in the centre of Lyon this weekend to raise awareness of colo-rectal cancer.
The huge blow-up tube comes from Germany - where it has toured a different city each week for the past year.
This is the colon's first time in France. Guided tours for the public will be offered on Saturday in the Place de la République, lasting about 10 minutes, explaining how the organ functions and the symptoms to look out for.
The initiative is part of a big campaign to get more people screened for colo-rectal cancer, a disease that affected 37,000 people in France last year and killed 17,000.
A free nationwide screening for 50 to 74-year-olds was launched at the end of last year - but only a third of those eligible in the Rhône department around Lyon took the test.
April's issue of The Connexion has a guide to all the different cancer screening programmes available in France - the eligibility criteria for getting a free check and the refund rates for those who have to pay.
Photo:20 Minutes
20minutes.fr : Visite au coeur d'un côlon géant
envoyé par 20Minutes. - L'info internationale vidéo.
