Seeing the severity of colon cancer and many other forms of cancer, researchers have never stopped making efforts to find a cure for these. A study lately carried out by researchers at the Harvard University has led them to a promising method to diagnose any kind of colon cancer.

Regular colonoscopies could avert almost 40% of colorectal cancers. Thus, experts have been suggesting people to get themselves screened for the deadly illness at a gap of every 10 years. However, people with benign tumors have been urged to get tested at shorter intervals.

Those with a family history of the disease are also being asked to get themselves checked at smaller gaps. Since, a clean colonoscopy helped patients involved in the research in realizing a significantly reduced risk of the cancer. It was after 15 years of the procedure.

The team said that the less persistent sigmoidoscopy showed a connection to lower risks of cancer in the colon's lower part. But, the same did not diagnose the cancers effectively in the upper colon.

"Our study provides strong evidence that colonoscopy is an effective technique for preventing cancers of both distal (left) and proximal (right) regions of the colorectum", affirmed the Department of Epidemiology's associate professor, Dr. Shuji Ogino.