I don't know if my doctor will take me seriously when I mention to him that I feel I could have colon cancer. What type of tests would a doctor do to find out if that is what I have? P.S. Im going to see a doctor of internal medicine.
Cancer - 9 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Your doctor should be performing a colonscopy. If this doctor doesn't take you seriously, find one that WILL!!! You *are* very young to be having colon cancer (it's generally a disease of middle- to old-age), but of course it's possible. Either way, go for a check, if only for your own peace of mind.
2 :
If you have symptoms suggestive of colon cancer (abdominal pain/ feeling of incomplete emptying/ change in bowel habbit/ weight loss/ blood/mucous in stools etc) the gold standard for diagnosis is colonoscopy which is when they stick a camera up your bum and have a look. Good luck. btw see another dr is they don't take you seriously - because they should. The chances of having colon cancer at your age is very slim unless you have a family history of colon cancer with young family members affected.
3 :
Just out of curiosity - why are you immediately jumping to the conclusion that it could be colon cancer? You could have a number of things, such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome,) Crones Disease, Diverticulitis and other things - it not not necessarily cancer - please don't get yourself so scared into thinking that immediately. As far as test - my guess is the first thing the doctor is probably going to want to do is a Colonoscopy. This is a very painless and simple procedure. They will put you to sleep under a VERY LIGHT general anesthesia and do the procedure. This is a very effective test to show most anything that may be going on in your colon. Again, please don't jump to conclusions. Don't go in telling your doctor that you think you have cancer - simply tell him/her what the symptoms that are bothering you are and let him/her be the doctor and tell you what might be going on. Good luck, hope this helps.
4 :
Your intern will examine you for hemmoroids, which are very common reason for pain and passing red blood. If he does not find hemmoroids he will probably refer you to a gastroentrologist for another examination and a possible colonscopy. A colonoscopy is a procedure done that allows a doctor to look inside your colon to find out what is going on. I am not sure what symptoms you are having but in general if you are passing red blood, have cramps, diarrea, constipation, pain, pus, red blood . . it is not necessarily a symptom of colon cancer. Colon cancer in the early stages is asymptomatic . . you wouldn't have symptoms. But it could be other things . . hemmoroids, fissure (tear in colon), Crohns Disease, or ulcerative colitis. You really will not know until you are examined and can have a definitive diagnosis. Be persistent. You want to find out exactly what you are dealing with, just so you can get on with your life and not be so worried.
5 :
You have many good answers here, but I just wanted to add that recently I had my first colonoscopy, and it was a piece of cake! Persist with your doctor or another if necessary, so you can have the peace of mind of knowing what you have and are able to work on the cure.
6 :
i would suggest aking a colonoscopy ..
7 :
You should see a gastrologist, and they will do a scope of your colon.
8 :
Colorectal cancer is extremely common. Symptoms include blood in the stool or change in bowel habits. Screening is with fecal occult blood testing. Diagnosis is by colonoscopy. Treatment is surgical resection and chemotherapy for nodal involvement. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and press on your belly area. The physical exam rarely shows any problems, although an abdominal mass may be felt. A rectal exam may reveal a mass in patients with rectal cancer, but not colon cancer. Imaging tests to diagnose colorectal cancer include: * Colonoscopy * Sigmoidoscopy Note: Only colonoscopy can see the entire colon. A fecal occult blood test (FOBT) may detect small amounts of blood in the stool, which could suggest colon cancer. However, this test is often negative in patients with colon cancer. For this reason, a FOBT must be done along with colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. It is also important to note that a positive FOBT doesn't necessarily mean you have cancer. A complete blood count may reveal show signs of anemia with low iron levels. If your doctor learns that you do have colorectal cancer, additional tests will be done to see if the cancer has spread. This is called staging. * Stage 0: Very early cancer on the innermost layer of the intestine * Stage I: Cancer is in the inner layers of the colon * Stage II: Cancer has spread through the muscle wall of the colon * Stage III: Cancer has spread to the lymph nodes * Stage IV: Cancer that has spread to other organs Please see the web pages for more details on Colon cancer.
9 :
FOBT - fecal occult blood test Best wishes!
Read more discussions :
- A question about colon cancer
- Could it be colon cancer? Or am I overlooking this...
- Is it possible for Colon Cancer to
- How do you detect colon cancer
- What web site can i go on to find the early detect...
- What is the difference between colon cancer and an...
- How much aspirin should be taken daily to help pre...
- Have anyone survived stage four colon cancer
