It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...Polyp Man™?

     In a new advertising campaign, The American Cancer Society and the Ad Council have teamed up to create a new comic book style super villain named Polyp Man™. Polyp Man™ will appear in a series of tongue-in-cheek public service announcements aimed at raising the awareness of colon cancer during Colon Cancer Awareness Month in March.

     Polyp Man™ is just what he sounds like - a giant polyp. He is portrayed by an actor wearing a large, padded red suit shaped like a polyp and black horn rimmed glasses.

     The television spots run for either 15 or 30 seconds and depict the villainous polyp in a variety of humorous situations. One spot has him being interrogated by a police officer - similar to the "Cops" television program. Polyp Man™ insists he is "only jogging" and not looking for a colon.

     The goal of the program is to encourage those at risk for colon cancer to get tested. Colon cancer usually starts with a polyp, which is a tear-shaped growth on the intestinal wall. During a colonoscopy polyps can be detected and removed, thereby stopping the cancer before it takes root.

     Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. When caught early, colon cancer is curable.