Is colonoscopy the only option for colon cancer screening?
Colonoscopy isn’t the only option for colon cancer screening, but it’s considered the best. Other screening options for colorectal cancer include flexible sigmoidoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, fecal occult blood test and double-contrast barium enema. A colonoscopy is considered the most accurate. It detects more cancers, examines the entire colon, and can be used for screening, diagnosis and removing polyps in the same procedure. If polyps are detected outside of a colonoscopy, it’s likely that your patient will have to go through the prep again and have a colonoscopy anyway — so a colonoscopy usually makes the most sense.
