Screening tests are performed to find potential cancers even before any symptoms are evident. Finding cancer early means that you are more likely to be cured so it is important for you to have appropriate screening tests even if you have no obvious symptoms. A Colon & Rectal Surgical Associates (CRSA) physician will recommend the screening or diagnostic tests that are right for you.

The following are the types of screening tests available for colorectal cancer:

Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy is performed under sedation. While asleep, a thin, flexible tube connected to a video camera (endoscope) is inserted into your rectum, and the doctor looks at your entire colon. The endoscope can also be used to remove polyps and cancers during the exam. There is NO discomfort during the procedure and patients rarely feel discomfort afterwards.

Flexible Sigmoidoscopy

In this test, the doctor puts a thin, flexible, hollow tube with a fiberoptic scope in your rectum. The tube is connected to a tiny video camera so the doctor can look at the rectum and the lower part of your colon.

The test can be a bit uncomfortable, but it lets your doctor see polyps when they are small (before they can be found with a fecal occult blood test). Because flexible sigmoidoscopy may miss cancerous polyps that are in the upper part of the colon, some doctors prefer a screening test called colonoscopy. Your doctor will discuss these options with you.

Fecal Occult Blood Test

In this test, your stool is checked for blood that you can't see. Your doctor gives you a test kit and instructions to use at home. Then you return a stool sample to your doctor for testing. If blood is found, another test is done to look for a polyp, a cancer or another cause of bleeding.

Many things that you eat can make this test turn out positive even though you don't really have blood in your stool. This is called a "false-positive" test. These things include some raw vegetables, horseradish, rare red meat, iron supplements and aspirin. Don't eat these things for two days before you have a fecal occult blood test. Some medical conditions, like hemorrhoids, can also cause a false-positive test result.

Virtual Colonoscopy

Virtual Colonoscopy is a novel technique that utilizes CAT scanning to examine the colon and rectum for polyps and cancer. There is no scope, and anesthesia is not administered. Although tissue biopsy and polyp removal are not possible with Virtual Colonoscopy, it may be an appropriate test for those individuals who cannot undergo colonoscopy.

Barium Enema

For this test, you are given an enema (injection of fluid into the rectum) with a liquid that makes your colon show up on an x-ray. Your doctor looks at the x-ray to find abnormal spots in your entire colon. If you have an abnormal spot, you are then examined by a colonoscopy.

Digital Rectal Exam

In this exam, your doctor, often a family practitioner, puts his or her gloved finger into your rectum to find any growths. This exam is simple to do and is not painful. However, because this exam can find less than 10% of colorectal cancers, it must be used along with another screening test.

Schedule an appointment with one of CRSA's physicians to determine which evaluation is best for you.

When should I be screened for colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer is more common in older people. Doctors usually recommend that all people should receive colon cancer screening by age 50, if not sooner.

Some people have risk factors that make them more likely to get colorectal cancer at a young age. Screening should begin earlier for these people.

You should begin screening at a younger age if any of the following are true about you:

• Have had colorectal cancer or large polyps in the past
• Have a close relative (brother, sister, parent or child) who has had colorectal cancer before age 60
• Have Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease
• Have a hereditary colon cancer syndrome

If you are in one of these groups, you may also need to be tested more often than a person who does not have risk factors for colorectal cancer.

Speak with your doctor to decide which screening tests you should have and how often you should be screened. If you don't have any risk factors for colorectal cancer, your family doctor will probably recommend that you have your first screening test at 50 years of age.