One of today's most recognized moms is now among an estimated 135,000 people diagnosed with colon cancer every year in the U.S.

Sharon Osborne's battle is raising awareness about the disease, and underscoring the importance of early detection.

Mario Sapoznik considers himself a healthy 44 year old, but since his father died of colon cancer... Mario's doctor considers him high risk for the disease.

Mario Sapoznick says, "Since I know that it's happened in my family my doctor suggested that I be screened for colon cancer at a young age."

Which is why every three years, Mario goes in for a screening test called a colonoscopy.

As Dr. Issac Bassan, a Gastroenterologist with Mt. Sinai Hospital explains, "The American cancer society, even Medicare now approves a colonoscopy for people of average risk who are 50 years old and older every ten years."

Beyond colonoscopy, there are other screening options for those under age 50 and not at high risk. Hemocult tests, which can be done in a doctors office or with an at home kit, can detect blood in the stool -- a possible sign of colon cancer or other gastrointestinal disease. But these tests are far from foolproof.

Dr. Issac Bassan says, "There've been studies that up to fifty percent of patients who have colon cancer have no blood in the stool."

Body scanning is another non-invasive screening method although it's not considered reliable because it often generates false positives. But any form of screening is better than nothing because if detected early, colon cancer is curable.

Channel 10 and Eckerd's have teamed up to provide free screening kits that may detect early signs of colon cancer. You can pick one up at any Dade or Broward Eckerd drug store.

Channel 10 Medical Expert Dr. Fabian Lopez says there are other issues concerning colon cancer. Many people talk about diet as a form of prevention. While a high fiber diet was considered to be an important factor in colon cancer prevention, medical experts are less convinced of its importance.

Dr. Issac Bassan tells us that doctors are impressed with the apparent protective effect of calcium, folic acid and even aspirin, and he urges people to be aware of the possible warning signs of colon cancer which include rectal bleeding, change in bowel habits, anemia, abdominal pain that doesn't go away