Colon Cancer Tests – Intro

After we talk about colon cancer symptoms and signs, what cause colon cancer and what to do/ask when seeing a colon cancer doctor, lets move forward to the colon cancer tests and diagnoses.

Before you are diagnosed with a colon cancer, the doctor will examine your symptoms and signs that are indicating you could have a colon cancer.

Colon Cancer Tests – The Initial Tests

After that your doctor may recommend one of more colon cancer tests and procedures, which includes:

1. Blood tests. In order to understand the things that may cause your signs and symptoms, a blood test is required. However, colon cancer cannot be detected by any blood test. This is the initial colon cancer tests. Blood tests may include a complete blood count and organ-function tests.
2. Using a scope to examine the inside of your colon. Colonoscopy uses a long, flexible and slender tube attached to a video camera and monitor to view your entire colon and rectum. If any suspicious areas are found, your doctor can pass surgical tools through the tube to take tissue samples (biopsies) for analysis. Colonoscopy is one of the common colon cancer tests performed.
3. Taking picture of your colon by using X-rays and dye. A barium enema allows your doctor to evaluate your entire colon with an X-ray. Barium, a contrast dye, is placed into your bowel in an enema form. During a double-contrast barium enema, air also is added. The barium fills and coats the lining of the bowel, creating a clear silhouette of your rectum, colon and sometimes a small portion of your small intestine. This colon cancer tests is not as popular as colonoscopy.
4. Generating some CT images to take a picture of your colon. A detailed pic of the your colon’s inside can be done by combining virtual colonoscopy and computerized tomography (CT) images.

Colon Cancer Tests – Screening Tests

We have made a pretty complete list of colon cancer symptoms screening test along with detailed information, and here are the available colon cancer tests for you:

1. Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)
2. Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)
3. Barium Enema X-Ray
4. Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
5. Colonoscopy
6. Virtual Colonoscopy

And here is supporting articles for the colon cancer tests above:

• Colonoscopy Advantages and Disadvantages
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Advantages and Disadvantages
• What is colon biopsy?

There, we’ve talked about some tests that your doctor might recommend for you, in order to diagnose the colon cancer. Next we will talk about colon cancer stages. Stay tuned.

You might also be interested in the main article about the colon cancer symptoms and signs

Post info: colon cancer symptoms, what causes colon cancer, colon cancer warning signs, colon cancer tests, colon cancer diagnosis, colon cancer stages, colon cancer treatment