Mercy Medical Center to broadcast colonoscopy live Tuesday

People will be able to view a live colonoscopy on the Internet on Tuesday, May 4.

The procedure will be broadcast at 9 a.m. on Mercy Medical Center's web site - www.mercycare.org - and on the KCRG-TV9 web site - www.kcrg.com

Kris Sargent, one of Mercy's oncology nurses, is undergoing the procedure and agreed to be on camera in hopes of spreading the importance of the potentially life-saving screening. When caught early, colon cancer has an almost 90 percent cure rate.

“I recently celebrated my 50th birthday and the first thing I did was to schedule my colonoscopy – to give myself the gift of health,” Sargent said. “Education is important, and I felt it's essential to practice what I preach. I'm hopeful that others will see how simple the procedure really is by watching as I go through my colonoscopy.”

Television personality Katie Couric put colon cancer screening on the map in 2002 when millions of viewers nationwide watched as she televised her own colonoscopy on the “Today” television show. She was credited with taking some of the fear and mystery out of the test.

On the state level, while restorative surgeries have been broadcast live on the Internet, the colonoscopy at Mercy is believed to be the first time an elective, preventative cancer screening has been broadcast live on the web in Iowa.

In addition, those interested in viewing the procedure can follow it on Twitter (MercyCR). Also, a “live chat” - where viewers can ask questions and receive answers - will be offered during the online broadcast.

Viewers also can see a re-broadcast of the procedure throughout May on KCRG-TV Local 9.2 channel.