Studies have proven that colonoscopies cut cancer deaths.

Although most people are nervous about the test, it has been proven that early testing is the best way to prevent death from colon cancer.

Polyps can be detected, removed and tested for malignancy before they have a chance to spread.

The new study followed 2,602 patients who had precancerous growths removed during colonoscopies for an average of 15 years. Their risk of dying from colon cancer was 53 percent lower than what would be expected among a similar group in the general population — 12 patients followed in the study died, versus 25 estimated deaths in the general population.