Colorectal Cancer
Frequently Asked Questions
11. What are some of the tools used to detect colorectal cancer?
Colon Cancer Screening Methods
Video length: 3 min 15 sec
Click to watch this video
Video length: 3 min 15 sec
Click to watch this video
Here are some of the tools used to detect colorectal cancer.
- A fecal occult blood test, or FOBT, is a test used to check for hidden blood in the stool. Sometimes cancers or polyps can bleed, and FOBT can detect small amounts of bleeding. Newer, genetically-based stool tests are proving to be more accurate than older tests.
- A sigmoidoscopy is an examination of the rectum and lower colon -- or sigmoid colon -- using a lighted instrument called a sigmoidoscope.
- A colonoscopy is an examination of the rectum and entire colon using a lighted instrument called a colonoscope. This is considered the gold-standard exam for colorectal cancer.
- A virtual colonoscopy, which requires the same preparation as a standard colonoscopy, is done with an external scanning machine as opposed to a device inserted into the colon. The colon does need to be inflated with gas for proper scanning.
