Nearly 10,000 Americans die every year, because they don't get screened for cancers, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Also, some health experts say half of deaths from colon and beast cancer could be prevented if people had been tested.

Still, more than 20 million Americans need to be screened for cancer, the government health agency said.

The CDC is developing more programs to motivate people to undergo the life-saving tests.

In New York, some hospitals now have patient navigators who help patients deal with colonoscopies.

"Many times they are afraid, they don't want to go through the process," said patient navigator Paulina Alviz.

As a result, 85 percent of the patients who were scheduled for colon screening, showed up for their tests due to the the personal help.

More than 51,000 Americans are expected to die of colon cancer this year, while nearly 103,000 new cases will be detected, according to the American Cancer Society estimates. Cancers of the colon and rectum are together considered the second leading type of cancer deaths. Lung cancer kills more.