Testing For Colon Cancer
When your doctor thinks you might have colon cancer, a procedure known as a lower GI series will be completed on you to first detect any abnormalities. A lower GI series is also a type of a radiography is similar to an x-ray. When a barium solution is inserted through the rectum, it is known as barium enema radiography. This is used to help confirm the diagnosis. A barium enema is to obtain radiographs of intestines, after the patient is given an enema with a white chalky liquid containing barium. This solution will be used to coat the intestine, and pictures will be take produce to detect the presence of tumors in the colon.
A second type of procedure used by a health professional to detect colon cancer is known as a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy involves using a long tube that is inserted into the intestine. The tube will have a small viewing camera attached to it. This allows the doctor to view the whole of the intestine as the tube travels through the camera.
Colonoscopy is highly regarded by medical professionals as being better to detect colon cancer. It is one of the best methods of detecting colon polyps of a smaller than average size. If a polyp is discovered, the doctor will remove it in a process known as polypectomy, and dissect it. This is another way of detecting cancer because colon cancer can start within a polyp.
If there is cancer within the polyp, the doctor will have to take samples of the intestinal wall to determine if the cancer has spread to other areas. This technique is known as a biopsy. If the cancer has spread, it will be necessary to take biopsies of other organs to see if any cancer is located within them.
In special circumstances, another way of detecting colon cancer is to do a blood test. Colon cancer cells will produce an antigen known as carcinoembryonic antigen. If this is found in a large concentration, this can suggest the possibility of colon cancer that has spread to other organs.
Tags: antigens, colon, Colon Cancer, colon-polyps, colonoscopy