What tests are available for detecting colorectal cancer?
Other than an occult (hidden) blood detection test, like the Hemoccult II, there are three other tests that are frequently used and recommended. The first is a digital rectal exam in which a doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels for abnormal areas. The second is called a flexible sigmoidoscopy which examines the inner lining of the rectum and last two feet of the colon. For this non- painful method, a thin, flexible tube with a light on the end is used to identify polyps or cancer. A barium x-ray is another screening method. A patient is given a barium enema, then air is introduced into the colon and x-rays are taken to identify any irregularities.
