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Dr. Stephen Chagares of Tinton Falls is the first to use robotics for breast reconstruction surgery.
Doug Hood, Asbury Park Press

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Your first desire may be to laugh. Do not

Officials said that someone had stolen a giant inflatable colon, used to teach the dangers of colon cancer, while he was preparing for a Kansas cancer fundraiser.

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The University of Kansas Cancer Center announced Friday in a press release that the 150-foot-long propeller had been stolen from a pickup truck in Brookside. It is valued at $ 4,000, but its true value lies in the way it opens discussions, according to officials.

John Ashcraft, a surgical oncologist, says that colon cancer is a difficult topic to tackle and that the giant inflatable colon is an excellent topic of conversation.

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The colon belongs to the Coalition Against Cancer, which organizes walking and running events as part of a campaign called "Get Your Rear In Gear". Get the inflatable colon all over the country to help uniquely see the progression of colon cancer.

An inflatable colon like this, exposed to the Lift Fitness Center, was stolen. (Photo: KENNETH CUMMINGS / The Jackson Sun)

Colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in one in 20 people.

Symptoms may include: a change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation, or a change in the consistency of your bowel movements that lasts more than four weeks; Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool; Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain; A feeling that your gut is not emptying completely; Weakness or fatigue Unexplained weight loss, according to the Mayo Clinic, although people at the beginning of the disease may not have symptoms.

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To learn more about colon cancer and the importance of screenings, visit mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colon-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353669.

Contribution: Associated Press

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