NPR announced his death Saturday in a statement, the Associated Press reported.

He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2001. The disease had spread resulting in a brain tumor and lung cancer.

A report broadcast on "Morning Edition" in Feb 2006 said he received chemotherapy. But his cancer spread during the past few years.   After a number of surgeries, he recently decided to give up treatment.

Early in July, Tony Snow, ex-spokesman for Georgia W. Bush, also died of colon cancer after a few years of treatment.

Colon cancer is diagnosed in 108,000 people and kills tens of thousands each year in the United States.   The conventional treatment apparently is not as effective as desired.

How to prevent colon cancer

Although colon cancer is common and dangerous, the disease is largely related to one’s diet and lifestyle and thus regarded as a cancer that can be preventable.   

Below are some studies reported early at foodconsumer.org and cited here for those who might be interested in knowing a thing or two about prevention of colon cancer.

A trial conducted by researchers at Emory University found more evidence to suggest that taking vitamin D and calcium supplements may lower risk of colon cancer. The study was reported on Apr 16, 2008.

AICR.org reported that in 2003, researchers at the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer reported in The Lancet that subjects who ate the most fiber had 25 percent lower risk of colon cancer than those who ate the least.

In October, 2006, the Journal of Nutrition reported that subjects who most increased their intake of dry beans (a rich source of dietary fiber) had 65 percent lower risk for polyp recurrence than those who ate the least. Polyps are precursors to colon cancer.

A study appearing in the August 15, 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association found the rates of recurrence or death from colon cancer were 3.5 times higher in those who followed a typical Western diet than that for those who did not follow the diet so typically.