Study Prompts Colon Cancer Screening Push

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The American Cancer Society is launching a national initiative to try to get more people screened for colon cancer.

This comes as a new study shows colonoscopies are reducing colon cancer cases in the U.S. and saving lives.

The number of colon cancer cases has dropped 30 percent in the last decade for those 50 years and older.

Research shows the number of adults having colonoscopies has tripled in recent years, causing the drop in colon cancer cases.

Death rates are also dropping.

But the study is not all good news. The rates of colon cancer are going up slightly for Americans under the age of 50, due to obesity and poor diet.

Doctors say colon cancer is one of the most preventable and most curable cancers.