Colon Cancer Tests

There are many different tests that doctors use when searching for colon cancer in their patients. The tests include; Colonoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, stool testing, barium enema, and sigmoidoscopy. Each of these tests are different and can help the patient in their own way. Your doctor will sit down with you and discuss each test and choose which one they feel is the right one to perform on you.

Sigmoidoscopy: This test is similar to the colonoscopy. The difference is that it lets the doctors check the lower part of the colon.

Colonoscopy: During a colonoscopy a doctor will insert a flexible tube known as a colonoscope up into your anus. A doctor watches the progress and movement of the colonoscope of the camera as it makes it way through the rectum and all the way to the end of the colon. You will be sedated during the entire procedure. The great thing about this test is that doctors have the ability to remove the pre-cancerous polyps growth.

Virtual Colonoscopy: This test allows doctors to look inside the colon and rectum without having to stick something inside of you. They use the virtual colonoscopy to look for cancer, polyps, and other abnormalities that could be hiding inside the colon and/or rectum. Doctors use a computer program to create a 3D picture of the large intestine through the use of x-ray images.

Barium Enema: For this test the doctor will fill your colon with barium sulfate. As you hold the liquid inside of you they will take x-rays as you move in different directions. This provides them with many x-rays with a two-dimensional view of your rectum and colon.

Stool Testing: There are two different types of stool tests. There is the stool DNA test and the occult blood test.

- Fecal occult blood tests search for hidden blood in your stool through the use of a chemical reaction. This test can also be performed in a doctor’s office or at home. The most common fecal occult blood tests are EZ Detect and the Colon Health Check.

- Stool DNA testing is most recent method that can easily be performed at your office or at home. This tests will look for traces of DNA material that is discarded by colorectal tumors or polyps.