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Take it from Polyp Man: Get tested

Polyp Man to the rescue!

Polyp Man provided a lot of laughs Thursday night on the Belleville News-Democrat copy desk. He will always be more than a pain in the rear to us! Of course, we wondered what his chances are with the ladies!

Below is the story from Jayne Matthews, who has a really knack of getting to the bottom of things, so to speak.

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Kathy Tedrick of Troy talked to Al “Polyp Man” Adomite at
Every Bloomin’ Thing in Troy.
(Photo by Steve Nagy/Belleville News-Democrat)

By Jayne Matthews
jmatthews@bnd.com
—
He looks like a big red Hershey’s kiss. His act is comical.

But his message is dead serious.

Polyp Man, the mascot of National Colorectal Cancer Month, wants everybody over 50 to be tested for polyps in the colon and rectum.

“You probably should get the screening when you’re 45, if you have a family history of colorectal cancer,” Polyp Man said during a recent romp through a Troy Chamber of Commerce party.

Colorectal cancer develops from polyps, small growths that can be detected and removed before they become cancerous. When detected early, colorectal cancer has a five-year survival rate of 90 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.

The society’s national message this month is “Get the test. Get the polyp. Get the cure.”

Different cancer society volunteers in the metro-east — sometimes women — don the Polyp Man costume each year during March.

“I’ve had more success with young high school students. People have levels of embarrassment they’re willing to go to,” said Marilyn McCall, spokesman for the society’s metro-east office in Maryville.

But Polyp Man wasn’t shy about discussing colorectal cancer at the chamber party, which was held at Joan Spencer’s Every Bloomin’ Thing flower and gift shop.

That’s because his alter ego is Al Adomite of Troy, former executive director of the metro-east branch of the cancer society.

It was Adomite’s second appearance as Polyp Man.

“I was Polyp Man at my church last night,” he said.

He passed out pamphlets and urged guests to undergo colonoscopies, examinations of the colon and rectum with a tiny camera probe.

Polyp Man’s unwieldy body caused some mayhem in the florist’s back room, which is lined with shelves of flower vases, novelty items and other supplies.

“There’s nothing worse than a clumsy polyp,” store employee Cindy White said.

Polyp Man also began to embellish his accomplishments, especially when a guest mentioned “Today” show host Katie Curic’s televised colonoscopy.

“It was a great time being with Katie on TV,” he said. “Me and Katie’s colon. I love it!”

Sometimes Polyp Man found himself preaching to the choir.

Kathy Tedrick of Troy has had a colonoscopy and so have three of her four siblings.

Tedrick is a missionary for early detection because a paternal uncle died of colon cancer and her father’s colon cancer was caught in its “very early stage,” she said. He took the test because his friends had been doing it.

A colonoscopy costs about $1,400, according to the cancer society.

Linda Manley’s husband, Randy Manley, and her father underwent colonoscopies the afternoon of the chamber party.

“My stubborn husband finally did it after me nagging him,” said Manley, vice president of the Troy chamber.

Manley had good reason to nag: Her husband’s father is undergoing treatment for colon cancer.

The testimonies for early detection and questions about colorectal cancer made Polyp Man turn a little self-important.

“They love me! They love me!” he said.

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