Friday, April 4, 2008

Is there another way to detect colon cancer than by a fecal sample


Is there another way to detect colon cancer than by a fecal sample?

Cancer - 2 Answers
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1 :
CT scan, MRI, PET scan, x-ray, colonoscopy can all be used in the detection of colon tumors. They are used as follow-up tools for patients who have gone through surgery / chemo / radiation. Once a tumor is noted, biopsy is necessary to determine if there is cancer (some tumours are benign). But they would generally only be used for a patient already showing other symptoms, or with a positive fecal sample. Colonoscopy is sometimes used routinely from a certain age as part of a screening program. Fecal sample does not determine cancer - it shows only that there is blood in the stool. This can be caused by other issues (e.g. colitis)
2 :
You can’t detect cancer with a fecal sample. If it is not found on a screening colonoscopy than it is usually due to the patient’s symptoms and if possible a colonoscopy is done at that time. If it is bad enough the patient will go straight to surgery a biopsy is not necessary.







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Posted by Colon Cancer at 10:42 PM