Her husband, TV producer Richard Cohen, got the bad news following a routine colonoscopy on Dec. 3. Fortunately the cancer was caught in time. Cohen underwent surgery on Dec. 14, and Viera reports that the prognosis for a complete recovery is excellent. But the fact is he's alive today because he went and did it. Ninety percent of all colorectal cancers occur in people over age 50.
Women are more at risk than men.
African-Americans manifest the affliction more often than other racial groups. Additional risk factors include family history of gastrointestinal disease, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and alcohol and tobacco use. X-rays are taken of the breasts from several angles and evaluated to determine the presence of any abnormalities. Digital technologies are on the immediate horizon which will eventually enhance the images to improve diagnosis. If there's a smoker on your list, this test could be the ticket.