Disease: malignant tumor of colon or carcinoma colon
Question: for malignant tumor of colon or carcinoma colon, how is colon cancer diagnosed??
Answer: An early diagnosis of colon cancer gives you the best chance of curing it. Since colon cancer often has no symptoms during the early stages, it is often caught during routine screenings.
The US Preventive Service Task Force (USPSTF) and the ACS
now recommend colon cancer screening starting at 45, in light of younger people getting diagnosed with colon cancer.
The American College of Gastroenterology recommends that people start colon cancer screening at 40 years old.
Your doctor will start by getting information about your medical and family history. They�ll also perform a physical exam. They may press on your abdomen or perform a rectal exam to determine whether lumps or polyps are present.
Fecal testing
The ACS
recommends yearly fecal testing. Fecal tests are used to detect hidden blood in your stool. There are two main types, the guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) and the fecal immunochemical test (FIT).
Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT)
Guaiac is a plant-based substance used to coat a special card that your stool sample is placed upon. If any blood is present in your stool, the card will change color.
You�ll have to avoid certain foods and medications, such as red meat and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), before this test. They may interfere with your test results.
Fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
The FIT detects hemoglobin, a protein found in the blood. It�s considered more precise than the guaiac-based test.
That�s because the FIT is unlikely to detect bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract (a type of bleeding that is rarely caused by colorectal cancer). Additionally, the results of this test aren�t affected by foods and medications.
At-home tests
Because multiple stool samples are needed for these tests, your doctor will likely provide you with test kits to use at home.
You can also buy at-home test kits from companies such as LetsGetChecked and Everlywell.
These kits often require you to send a stool sample off to a lab for evaluation. Your test results should be available online within 5 business days. Afterward, you�ll have the option to consult with a medical care team about your test results.
The Second Generation FIT can also be purchased online, but the stool sample doesn�t have to be sent to a lab. Test results are available within 5 minutes. This test is accurate, FDA-approved, and able to detect additional conditions such as colitis. However, there�s no medical care team to consult with if you have questions about your results.
Blood tests
Your doctor may run blood tests to get a better idea of what�s causing your symptoms. Liver function tests and complete blood counts can rule out other diseases and disorders.
Sigmoidoscopy
Minimally invasive, sigmoidoscopy allows your doctor to examine your sigmoid colon, the last section of your colon, for abnormalities. The procedure, also known as flexible sigmoidoscopy, involves a flexible tube with a light on it.
The USPSTF recommends a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, or every 10 years along with a yearly FIT test.
The ACS
recommends a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy involves the use of a long tube with a small camera attached. This procedure allows your doctor to see inside your colon and rectum to check for anything unusual. It�s usually performed after less invasive screening tests indicate that you might have colon cancer.
During a colonoscopy, your doctor can also remove tissue from abnormal areas. These tissue samples can then be sent to a laboratory for analysis.
Out of the existing diagnostic methods, sigmoidoscopies and colonoscopies are the most effective at detecting benign growths that may develop into colon cancer.
The USPSTF and the ACS
recommend a colonoscopy every 10 years.
X-ray
Your doctor may order an X-ray using a contrast solution that contains the chemical element barium.
Your doctor inserts this liquid into your bowels through the use of a barium enema. Once in place, the barium solution coats the lining of the colon. This helps improve the quality of the X-ray images.
CT scan
CT scans provide your doctor with a detailed image of your colon. A CT scan that�s used to diagnose colon cancer is sometimes called a virtual colonoscopy.
Products to try
At-home tests can be used to detect blood in the stool, an important symptom of colon cancer. Shop for them online:
LetsGetChecked Colon Cancer Screening Test
Everlywell FIT Colon Cancer Screening Test
Second Generation FIT (Fecal Immunochemical Test)
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