Thus, screening tests attempt to prevent cancer from occurring. When the tests identify polyps that are already cancerous, the disease is frequently at an early stage and can be treated more effectively and economically . Virtually all organizations that offer authoritative recommendations on screening endorse screening for colorectal cancer. Sigmoidoscopy is a procedure in which a physician uses a thin tube with a light on the tip to examine the rectum and lower colon.
Colonoscopy is a procedure in which the physician uses a longer tube to examine the entire colon.
Both colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy allow physicians to remove polyps and send them to the laboratory for testing. Virtual colonoscopy is an emerging technology that uses CT scans to provide 3-D images of the colon. Genetic test for colon cancer identifies genes that can later lead to colorectal cancer. The American Cancer Society says that 50,000 people die annually in the US, despite the fact that there is a 92 percent survival rate if colon cancer is spotted early. Colon cancer kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths.