Norah O'Donnell Urges Colon Cancer Screening After Colonoscopy at 45

2 articles · Updated · PennLive · May 24

Norah O'Donnell said she recently underwent a colonoscopy and used the update to urge followers to schedule colorectal cancer screening.
Age 45 is the recommended starting point for most people, she said, while those with a family history of colon cancer should begin earlier.
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, O'Donnell noted, and cases are rising in younger adults even though early detection can prevent the disease.
The CBS News senior correspondent described the prep as manageable and the procedure as quick and painless, saying doctors can remove precancerous polyps before they turn dangerous.
Her appeal comes nearly a decade after a routine skin check found two spots on her back and led to a skin cancer diagnosis.

As cancer diagnoses in young people surge, is the recommended screening age of 45 already too late for many?

With new blood and stool tests available, is the colonoscopy still the undisputed best choice for cancer screening?

Why are millennials facing double the colon cancer risk of their grandparents, and what can they do about it now?