If you're 50 or older, your physician has probably recommended you to get screened for colorectal cancer. The reason: Colorectal cancer stands as the second highest cause of cancer related death in the United States. Since polyps can take years before becoming cancerous, with proper screening, colorectal cancer may be prevented.

Until recently, there was only one way to screen for colorectal cancer, the traditional colonoscopy. This procedure involves a bowel cleansing process which lasts about a day, followed by sedation and a look through your colon with a five-foot-long probe. Not surprisingly, many people choose not to have this procedure. That's unfortunate, since 90% of such cancers may be prevented.

There is a new less invasive technique called the Virtual Colonoscopy. The Virtual Colonoscopy involves no scopes but rather a scan of your colon. The Virtual Colonoscopy Scan takes hundreds of images of the abdomen, allowing radiologists to take a virtual tour through your colon. Bowel preparation is necessary but the good news is that the Virtual Colonoscopy is completely non-invasive, involves no sedation and no in-patient stay. You can choose to go back to work right after the procedure.

After the images are captured, a board certified radiologist will interpret your results and recommend a follow-up, if necessary. A follow-up may include a traditional colonoscopy.

This procedure is not recommended for individuals who have a history of colorectal cancer, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis. Those individuals should consult their physician.

Colon Cancer Facts
• Colon cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in the US,
• accounting for about 48,000 deaths a year.
• Over 97,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer this year.
• Colon cancer is the 3rd most common cancer among men and  women in the US.
• Men and women are at equal risk.
• 90% of colon cancers occur over age 50.