Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., claiming over 53,000 lives in 2004.¹ That means every 9.3 minutes someone in the U.S. dies of colorectal cancer.

You can significantly reduce your risk of getting colorectal cancer by being tested.² But screening rates remain low, in part because of the perceived invasiveness of colonoscopy.³

Philips is working on a promising new technology - Virtual Colonoscopy - that's faster and easier than optical colonoscopy. Virtual Colonoscopy is less invasive than optical colonoscopy, and does not require sedation.

In this issue, we discuss the importance of colorectal exams and the emerging field of Virtual Colonoscopy.

Healthcare News: Technology choices in colorectal cancer 

There are 4 kinds of imaging tests that can be used to find both types of cancer and precancerous growths. Virtual Colonoscopy is one of them.

Profiles in Excellence: Dr. Abraham Dachman
Dr. Dachman realized that Virtual Colonoscopy could help improve early detection rates. By educating doctors, he is working to make the test available to more patients.

Patient Story: "It's less intrusive and faster"

George Recentio knew he was overdue for a colon exam, but he did not want to have an optical colonoscopy. He discovered Dr. Dachman and Virtual Colonoscopy in the nick of time.

Resources: 10 things to know about colorectal cancer
Although it's the second leading cancer killer, many people don't know the basics about colorectal cancer. Here are ten facts that everyone should know.

Site of the Month: StandUp2Cancer.org

Stand Up To Cancer is bringing industry resources -- people, as well as mediums such as television and the web -- to bear in the fight against cancer as never before.

1. U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 2004 Incidence and Mortality. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2007.
2. Selby JV, Friedman GD, Quesenberry CP Jr, Weiss NS . A case-control study of screening sigmoidoscopy and mortality from colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med. 1992 Mar 5;326(10):653-7.
3. "Prevention and early detection: keys to reducing deaths." CDC. Oct. 2006.

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