THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, September 20, 1996            TAG: 9609190009
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A18  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   29 lines

DON'T WAIT FIVE YEARS

Thank you for publishing Frank Blanchard's article on ``virtual colonoscopy'' (Another View, Sept. 12). At a recent American College of Gastroenterology meeting, I was privileged to see a demonstration of the computer images and was impressed with its potential for inexpensive, low-risk and comfortable screening for colorectal cancer and polyps.

According to statistics from the American Cancer Society, 2,800 Virginians are expected to be diagnosed with colon cancer in 1996, and 1,100 are expected to die of the disease. If detected early, 91 percent of patients survive five years or more. In fact, we have seen a 31 percent reduction in mortality from colorectal cancer in the last 30 years, attributed to earlier detection and to improved treatment.

However, this exciting virtual reality test is still about five years away from real reality. If you have alterations in your bowel habits, blood in your bowel movements, weight loss, anemia or iron-poor blood, a family history of colon cancer or are simply over the age of 50, please ask your family doctor if you need a screening examination or evaluation NOW.

Remember, the key to colon cancer cure is early detection. Please don't wait five years.

PATRICIA L. RAYMOND, M.D., fellow

American College of Gastroenterology

Chesapeake, Sept. 13, 1996 by CNB