How Does Colon Cancer Detection Work?
Colon Cancer detection is usually done with the help of certain specific symptoms. The symptoms of colon cancer include blood in the rectum or stool, the feeling that one has to have bowel movement all the time, stomach and lower abdomen pain, changes in bowel habits, constipation, diarrhea and pencil thin stools, extreme fatigue and decrease in appetite. If most of these symptoms are noticed, different methods are used to try to detect colon cancer. The simplest method for screening for colon cancer is a digital examination of the rectum and a blood test known as the Fecal Occult Blood Test. In the digital examination, a physician examines the patient for any irregularities in the rectum. The FOBT is important for discovering traces of blood in the stool. The blood test is usually done at home and sent to the lab for further analysis. Another method used to detect colon cancer is a flexible sigmoidoscopy and a colonoscopy. It is usually done to view the interior of the colon and rectum. The sigmoidoscopy examines the rectum and lower colon whereas in a colonoscopy the entire colon is examined. A flexible tube with a tiny camera is inserted into the rectum and is moved around to view the lining of the intestines and colon for any signs of cancer. During this procedure a tissue sample is taken from the colon for evidence of malignancy. These procedures can be conducted under a local anesthetic if it is causing discomfort. In order to determine how much of the intestine and colon is involved with the cancer, a Gastrointestinal x-ray is done. A solution called barium is consumed by the patient to illuminate the gastrointestinal tract on the x-rays. Sometimes air is also filled in the rectum to view the large intestine better. This is known as the double-contrast barium enema. The air pumped in usually causes discomfort. After the cancer has been detect, some more testing is done in order to determine how far and where the cancer has spread in the body. There are five stages of colon cancer. Stage 0 is the earliest stage in which the cancerous cells have only developed in the colon lining. Stage 1 is where the cancer has spread to the second and third walls of the inside of the colon but has still not spread beyond the colon. Stage 2 is where the cancer spreads beyond the colon but not beyond the lymph nodes. Stage 3 is where the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes but not the entire body and Stage 4 is where the cancer spreads throughout the body. It is best to take the patient for diagnosis as soon as the major symptoms are seen. It is not wise to wait for the symptoms to vanish. Detection of colon cancer is a relatively simple process compared to other forms of cancer and therefore it is important to not hesitate at the slightest symptom noticed. |
