Diagnosis

The American Cancer Society estimates that 145,290 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year and that 56,290 people are expected to die from this disease this year. If diagnosed before it spreads, the 5 year survival rate for colorectal cancer is over 90%. However only 37% of people are diagnosed while the cancer is still localized. Most of these deaths can be prevented by getting a colonoscopy at age 50, or earlier with a family history.  A colonoscopy is a screening test which can be used to detect certain pre-cancerous or polyps, in the colon and rectum and remove them before they ever develop into cancer.  The earlier colorectal cancer is detected, the more curable it is.

There are several tests that are used to screen for and detect colorectal cancer including:

Colonoscopy:

This procedure is the gold standard and most sensitive test used to detect even small lesions.  During this procedure a doctor uses an endocope to view the entire colon. If an abnormality is detected during the procedure the doctor can take a biopsy of tissue from the colon through the endoscope.

For more info please visit www.emedicine.com or www.cancer.org.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy:

This test is similar to a colonoscopy, however the endoscope used for this procedure is much shorter and only allows the doctor to visualize only about half of the colon. If a polyp or abnormality is found during this procedure, the doctor will likely recommend a colonoscopy.  This test is not as sensitive as a colonoscopy since it does not visualize the entire colon.

Fecal occult blood test:

This test looks for small amounts of blood in a stool sample. When polyps or cancers begin to form they can cause trace amounts of blood to be in the stool. If the the results are positive, a colonoscopy will likely be recommended.

Barium enema with air contrast:

During this procedure barium will be used to partially fill the colon during an x-ray. This will allow a doctor to look for areas of abnormalities and recommend further testing such as a colonoscopy.