by KYW medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough

On the heels of the death of political analyst Tony Snow of colon cancer, there is information from the Center for Disease Control about colorectal cancer screening rates. Unfortunately, they are still too low.

According to the report, a study looked at surveys of over 13,000 adults, 50 and older, and found that only about half had been screened for colon cancer in 2005.

Now there is some good news. This was an improvement from 43 percent five years earlier, however the rate needs to increase because obviously colon cancer, if caught early, can be treated and treated effectively. But as it gets into the more advanced stages, it is far more difficult to treat and it could spread to other parts of the body.

Read Dr. Brian McDonough's Medical Reports