SAVANNAH, Ga. () — March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month and health experts are emphasizing the importance of early screenings. 

A larger-than-life reminder made a stop at the YMCA on Habersham Street in Savannah. 

A 13-foot-high, 10-foot-long inflatable colon was on display, giving visitors a walk-through look at what happens inside the body. 

The interactive exhibit featured polyps and cancerous growths which demonstrated why early detection is critical. 

Experts said the screening guidelines have changed and they recommend people start getting checked earlier than before.

“I find that a lot of my patients think about the colon and the anus and the rectum as this big black box that’s kind of a scary thing to investigate because it’s something that polite people don’t talk about, it’s something that can be really embarrassing if you have symptoms there and so by bringing this big float here I think it helps to normalize talking about these things,” Correctional Surgeon at Memorial Health Dr. Elizabeth McKeown said. 

Health officials encouraged everyone to talk with their doctor about when to schedule their screening.