The tests for finding out if someone has colorectal cancer can be a little uncomfortable, but the benefits of having these tests done can save your life. The test for colon rectal cancer are screening tests which are procedures that are used to look for disease in the early stages. There also identify when there is no disease. There are 5 tests that are used when looking for colorectal cancer.

COLONOSCOPY

Before they start a colonscopy, they will give you medication to help you relax. You will go to sleep during the procedure and not have any memory of the actual procedure that was done. There is a small risk factor with this procedure. 1 person in 1,000 has a serious complication from the colonscopy procedure. A Colonoscopy is usually recommended every five to 10 years after you reach the age of 50.

A thin, flexible tube is inserted into the colon. this tube looks directly inside your large intestine, examining all of your colon. At the end of the flexible tube is a tiny camera that lets the physician see inside. If they find a polyp, they will usually remove it. If it looks like cancer, they will take a biopsy which is a small sample of a suspected cancer and perform further testing on the sample.

This procedure is similar to a colonscopy, the exception is that it only looks inside the lower end of the colon, the sigmoid. If they discover a polyp that is suspicious for cancer, a sample (biopsy) might be taken out for further testing. Sometimes after a sigmoidscopy, you may need a colonscopy so that they can check your entire colon

BARIUM ENEMA

This is a procedure that uses x-rays to locate polyps or cancer in the colon. They insert a small tube into the rectum and fluid which is called barium is passed into the colon. The barium will highlight polyps on the x-rays. If they find a polyp, you will need a colonscopy and a biopsy. There is sometimes a mild cramping during the test. The risk with this procedure are very small, less than 1 person in 10,000 will have a serious complication from the procedure.

Before any of these test are done you will be given a laxative that will clean out your colon. They cannot perform any of these procedures inless your colon is clean.

FECAL OCCULT BLOOD TEST OR HEMOCCULT

This is test that is done to look for hidden blood in your stool. Some polyps or colon cancers bleed in such small amounts that they are not visible to the human eye. Before this test you will be told to avoid eating foods like red meat,broccoli, cucumbers. They will also want you not to use any vitamin or mineral supplements. This test finds hidden blood, but it does not identify what is causing it. A lot of patients with hidden blood do not have cancer.. If this test shows blood, then you will need to have another test like an colonoscopy to find out of you have polyps or cancer.

DIGITAL RECTAL EXAM

The physician will feel inside the rectum for abnormal areas. This is done in the doctor's office and there is no special preparation for this test.

Everyone from age 50 and up, should have regular screening done for colorectal cancer. Failing to have regular checkups for colon cancer can end up costing your life. By the time they discover cancer in patients who have not been tested, it has advanced too far and can be too late for cancer treatment like radiation and chemotherapy to be effective. Be smart and get checked!

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