(Undated) -- Harry Smith, co-host of the CBS "Early Show," underwent a colonoscopy live on the air Wednesday morning. Dr. Mark Pochapin, director of New York's Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health, performed the screening and said Smith's colon looked healthy. "CBS Evening News" anchor Katie Couric was there during Smith's colonoscopy. She had one done on TV ten years ago while co-hosting NBC's "Today Show" in the wake of the death of her husband, Jay Monahan. He died of colon cancer at age 42.
During a colonoscopy, the doctor looks at the inside of the colon using a scope that has a tiny video camera mounted on the end of it. This type of screening can detect polyps that may be pre-cancerous at an early stage so they can be removed. Early detection with screening tests is important because there often are no symptoms with colon cancer until it reaches an advanced stage.
