It is estimated that 149,500 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year. However, this cancer is often treatable when diagnosed in its early stages before it has spread to other parts of the body. Colorectal cancer screening is an effective way for doctors to find colorectal cancer early when it is easier to treat. Read on to learn more.
What is Colorectal Cancer Screening?
A colorectal cancer screening test is a procedure done to find colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer in people with no symptoms. The goal of screening is to detect colorectal cancer at an early stage when treatment works best. Symptoms of colorectal cancer do not usually appear until the cancer is advanced. The most common colorectal cancer symptoms include:
- A change in bowel habits, especially diarrhea or constipation
- Blood in the stool
- Stools that are narrower than usual
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Feeling full even after eating only a small amount of food
Types of Colorectal Cancer Screening
Colonoscopy is considered to be the standard colorectal cancer screening test for people 50 years of age and older, but many other colorectal cancer tests are available. Colonoscopy uses a thin, flexible tube with an attached light and camera (colonoscope) that is inserted into the anus and guides the scope up through the entire bowel length. A cancer specialist can then look for abnormal growths or bleeding.
Colonoscopy has many benefits, including fewer false-negative results than barium enema X-ray. It is also more accurate than fecal occult blood testing and flexible sigmoidoscopy. Other screening methods include:
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: It is a colorectal test that uses a thin, flexible tube to check the rectum. During this test, the cancer specialist will put a sigmoidoscope into the rectum and look for colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer.
- Barium Enema: It is a colorectal test that uses x-rays to take pictures of your colorectum. It works by filling the colorectum with white liquid (barium) so that polyps or colorectal cancer will show up more clearly on the x-ray.
- Blood Test: The test checks your stool for hidden (occult) blood. Occult means not visible to the naked eye. The colorectal specialist will ask you to bring in a stool sample or give you a test kit and simple instructions on how to collect and perform the test and mail the results.
Bowel cancer is among the most common types of cancer in the United States. Several types of colorectal cancer screening have been developed to help doctors diagnose the disease at an early stage when it might be easier to treat.
