The mere thought of getting a standard colonoscopy makes some people shudder in their seats, and unfortunately, prevents many people from receiving the critically important check-up. But there is a new procedure that may make the whole process a bit easier to endure.

A CT-scan-based form of virtual colonoscopy that does not require laxative preparation appears to be as effective as standard colonoscopy in identifying the intestinal polyps most likely to become cancerous.

Blacks and Hispanics have a significantly higher risk of developing precancerous colorectal polyps compared with whites.

What happens on the day before a colonoscopy may be just as important as the colon-screening test itself.

Just two extra hours of focused training significantly increased the ability of physicians to find potentially precancerous polyps, known as adenomas, in the colon.