Live Life Team
There are a few different steps in diagnosing colon cancer. Regular screening is recommended for older adults and those with heightened risk factors, but if a patient approaches their doctor about concerning symptoms, the first response would normally be to examine the patient and conduct some preliminary tests.
A physical examination checks for lumps and enlarged organs internally and via the surface of the abdomen. A blood test or stool sample may be taken. These cannot confirm the presence of cancer, but can indicate if there are any markers that would seem to suggest cancer and warrant further investigation.
Usually an internal scope is the next step. A scope is inserted to examine the inside of the colon for polyps and may be used to take a biopsy or sample of any concerning-looking tissue for further testing. This is a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, and if samples are taken, an examination of the tissue in a lab can confirm the presence of cancerous cells.
Various types of imaging are also used during diagnosis. Double-contrast barium enema works with x-ray technology, and ultrasound, CT, or MRI imaging technology may be used. Often these tests are looking for cancer in other areas of the body to which it might have spread in order to diagnose the specific stage of cancer. Stages 0, 1, and 2 are localized to the colon, while stages 3 and 4 involve some spread of cancer cells to lymph nodes and other organs and tissue.
A colon cancer diagnosis will normally include both the stage and the grade of cancer, along with any other particulars of location, types of cells, and prognosis. While the stage and grade of cancer are helpful generalizations for the purposes of communication and treatment, it’s important to understand the particulars of each individual diagnosis. Colon cancer is diagnosed based on the presence of cancerous growths in the colon, but the individual experience and prognosis can vary widely.
