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Colonoscopy is the Definitive Method to Prevent and Diagnose Colon Cancer

Dr. Jerry Lang explains what you might expect during a colonoscopy and how often you should get one.

On this page we describe colonoscopy and other methods used to prevent and diagnose colon cancer. However, it is our heartfelt desire that you become a part of this website and contribute your personal experience with the various methods and in particular, colonoscopy so that other's may benefit. Your stories, tips, experiences and advice are all welcome and will be published here. You can remain anonymous if you choose. You can submit your own story here or you can read stories submitted by others here.

There are several methods to use when diagnosing colon cancer and we'll discuss each of them. The easy ones should be part of everybody's annual physical and everyone should have a colonoscopy every 5 years after age 50. The more complicated procedures are used when you or your doctor see signs or symptoms.

Diagnosis Methods

There are also some new, still experimental procedures:

Digital Rectal Exam

Your doctor can easily perform a digital rectal exam with his fingers (digits) to check for abnormal growths in the rectum, the last part of your colon. It can be uncomfortable or unpleasant for a minute or two. But it is very simple, fast and easy- and no preparation is needed.

Fecal Occult Blood Test

With a fecal occult blood test, your doctor will give you one of a few different kinds of kits to test for blood in your stool. The nurse will explain how to collect a stool sample at home and where to mail the kit. Your doctor will be sent the results and give you a report. The test is called occult because signs of blood are hidden in feces, and the test uses special chemicals to determine if blood is there.

Sigmoidoscopy

Sigmoidoscopy should probably be done every 5 years after you turn 50, and perhaps sooner if your doctor thinks that there may be a problem. This test requires preparation the night before. You'll also need someone to get you home, because you'll be a little sedated and will probably feel uncomfortable.

The doctor inserts a tube into your rectum carefully, and slowly moves it up the left side of your colon. She then slowly removes it while looking at a TV image from inside your colon from a camera in the tip of the tube. At this time, she can remove any polyps with small surgical instruments built into the tube and see if there are any other problems.

Colonoscopy

The most common and reliable method of diagnosing colon cancer is colonoscopy. This procedure is similar to the sigmoidoscopy, but the tube is longer. This gives a complete view of the entire colon and rectum. Some doctors don't think a patient should bother with a sigmoidoscopy since it only shows the last 1/3 of the colon and doesn't show anything about the first 2/3 of your colon.

The preparation for this test is very similar to the sigmoidoscopy test - emptying your colon the night before and needing someone to bring you back home because you'll be a little sedated and will probably feel uncomfortable.

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Procedures Other Than a Colonoscopy

Doctors have several methods to look at your colon without placing a tube in there:

  • X-ray
  • Ultrasound
  • CT scans

The X-ray technique requires administering an enema containing Barium to allow the entire colon to be clearly seen on an X-ray. Ultrasound scanning can be tried, but it doesn't always work very well. Sometimes an ultrasound scanner is attached to a colonoscope, but that requires the colonoscope procedure. CT scans are the short name for Computerized Tomography.

As with other procedures, this requires preparation with a complete colon-cleansing agent. It also involves a tube that is inserted into the rectum, but does not require sedation. This procedure is not capable of finding each and every tumor as thoroughly as the colonoscopy method.

All three of these procedures only give the doctor pictures of the colon. If she sees something inside the colon, she still has to remove it using a colonoscope.

Virtual Colonoscopy

You may have heard of a Virtual colonoscopy. This is done using computerized tomography (CT) scanning, or sometimes a magnetic resource imaging (MRI) machine is used. The advantage of this procedure is that the patient is not sedated and it is quick. The disadvantage is that many doctors don't think it can catch each polyp. And when a problem is found, the patient may still need a colonoscopy procedure to take care of it.

Your doctor may want you to get a blood test of a substance called carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). CEA is a protein that increases when someone has colon cancer. Testing to see if the amount goes up or down during treatment helps your doctor know if the treatment to get rid of the cancer is working.

More Information

This page gives you very brief information on the different methods of diagnosing colon cancer. It is really important to understand the specifics for each procedure and we are writing that for you. You can click here to let us know if you want more detailed information. Or use the form at the right to sign up for our newsletter so we can let you know when more information is available. You can also look at the other pages on this site to read more information about these topics.

Written by Steve Goldner - 2/24/09

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Read Other Visitor's Colonoscopy Stories

Click below to see personal contributions from other visitors about their experiences with colonoscopy...

Colonoscopy not always reliable  starstarstarstarstar
I got a colonoscopy as we all are advised to do. The result was fine...they said to come back in 10 years. Two and one half years later, I was found ...

So What I Turned 50?!!  starstarstarstarstar
I have a primary care doctor who strongly encourages colonoscopies beginning at age 50. Even in my forties, he would ask me, “When are you turning 50?...

Colonoscopy: Do You HAVE To Lie On Your Left Side  starstarstarstarstar
I am scheduled for a colonoscopy in 3 weeks. Everything I have read indicates that you lie on your left side. I have severe arthritis in my left shoulder ...

Annual Colon Cancer Check Up  starstarstarstarstar
I believe that a screening colonoscopy should become part of the annual physical since there are medical insurances that cover it.

There is nothing ...

colon cancer polyps at young age  starstarstarstarstar
hi, i had my 1st colonoscopy a week ago age 37, about a year an a half ago i noticed i was feeling hungry all the time and was eating a lot more yet when ...

colon cancer-symptoms and no insurance  starstarstarstarstar
My sister has colon cancer now, my grandpa died from it, my daughter has cancer, and I have symptoms of possibly colon cancer.

Problem, I have no ...

Unsedated Colonoscopy?  starstarstarstarstar
I am in my 30's and I have had Blood from my rectum BRIGHT RED but not in the bowel movements. My doctor said i should have a colonoscopy but... MY problem ...

My Colonoscopy  starstarstarstarstar
People dread these procedures. I did too. I just want to say that I have had more than one and the worse part for me, was the night before the procedure ...

My Colon Cancer  starstarstarstarstar
My story is to let people know that they should get physicals and always answer the questions honestly, know matter if they are personal or embarrassing....

colonoscopy  starstarstarstarstar
How often should i get a colonoscopy?

Colonoscopy  starstarstarstarstar
When did colon cancer screening using a colonoscopy come into general use?

I Finally Got This Thing Scheduled!  starstarstarstarstar
It has been several weeks since I posted my first message and I'm back to report that I finally got my colonoscopy scheduled. It occurs to me that you ...

Thinking About Getting A Colonoscopy  starstarstarstarstar
I've been thinking about getting screened again. I had this first done when I turned 50 and the doctor did indeed find a Polyp. I'm now 57 years old ...

Have Colonoscopies as Early as Possible  Not rated yet
I urge everyone to have a colonoscopy, as early detection can save your life, and get severeal opinions if you dont feel well.
My mother just passed away,...

Colonoscopy Information  Not rated yet
I am 40 years old, African-American, and recently had my first Colonoscopy. The doctor discovered two polyps (one smaller and one larger), that were fortunately ...

Colonoscopy - Do it!! -Get it Checked  Not rated yet
I was diagnosed a couple of years ago. My wife, a nurse urged me to go as I was passing blood. A colonoscopy was performed. Not particularly painful ...

last stage of cancer  Not rated yet
i was 35 years old and in 1989 i was in my last stage of colon cancer. i was told i only had 6 months to live.my wonderful dr. did real intense surgery....

Thank goodness for colonoscopies, this very worthwhile procedure.  Not rated yet
I had a colonoscopy 4 weeks ago. The docs found a large tumour and 12 lymph nodes. I was operated on the next day to have them removed together with a ...

Colonoscopy Not bad at all.....  Not rated yet
Having Crohn's Disease requires that I have a colonoscopy about every three years.
Just had one last week, and I wanted to let people know that IT ISN'...

A Good Colon Doctor Experience is Dependent on Many Things  Not rated yet
I am 45 years old. Typically, I am not the age that doctors recommend a colon screening, particularly if no symptoms of bleeding or discomfort are reported....

1 year later with my colon cancer problem  Not rated yet
I had a colonoscopy 7-21-2009 I had 2 small polyps
removed, 2-13 2011 I had rectal bleeding my dr. was
treating me for hemorrhoids

3- 11-2011 I had ...

Alternative colonoscopy preparation  Not rated yet
I am getting request from patients for colon hydrotherapy to cleanse and prepare them for colonoscopy procedures. Many Gastroenterologist are not familiar ...

How About Having a Colonoscopy Annually?  Not rated yet
accept the fact that the best way to detect colon cancer is by going through a screening colonoscopy. It will involve a day of taking enemas/laxatives ...

Colon Cancer Preventive Care  Not rated yet
It is important to accept the fact that once a person has reached the age of fifty, they need to have a screening colonoscopy.

Time needs to be set ...

I'm worried my dad has colon cancer.  Not rated yet
Hello there I was hoping you could answer a question for me about colon cancer and colonoscopy. If not, that's OK. I know you're probably pretty busy....

cure for colon cancer  Not rated yet
Is there a cure for colon cancer?

Never Too Young  Not rated yet
When I turned 50 yrs. old my regular doctor mentioned that I should have a colonoscopy done. I figured there was no rush - that colon cancer happens to ...

No Symptoms except low Iron, diagnosed at Stage IV  Not rated yet
Hi. I was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal Cancer in 2005. I had no symptoms except low iron. I had the fecal occult test done in Jan '05 with negative ...

Please Don't Put Off a Colonoscopy It Can Save Your Life!  Not rated yet
I am 46 years old with a family history of colon cancer and diverticulosus. I began having symptoms about 15 years ago.

I finally went for a colonoscopy ...

Numb And Scared  Not rated yet
Well, I have had a few lower bowel pains and constantly feel bloated - the pain was worse when I urinated - but then it stopped after taking some antibiotics....

Glad I Did It But Aggravated About The Fees  Not rated yet
I am really glad I got a colonoscopy 5 years ago, but I can still remember how aggravating their bills were. The medical center just sent me a reminder ...

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