How to Avoid a Delayed Colon Cancer Diagnosis

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortalities in the United States, but the second leading cause is colon cancer. The third most common type of cancer, colon cancer is treatable and curable when found in the early stages. Read these steps to learn about screening tests available for colon cancer.

Instructions

• 1

  Know the risk factors for colon cancer. If you are in a high-risk group, ask your doctor about a screening regimen appropriate for you. Those with a high incidence include people with a close family member treated for colon cancer, a history of ovarian, uterine, or breast cancer or a history of ulcerative colitis.

• 2

  Learn the symptoms of colon cancer. You must tell the doctor if you experience continual diarrhea, constipation, narrow stools, red or dark stools or abdominal pain.

• 3

  Obtain a fecal occult blood test kit to check for blood in the stool. The advantages of this test include no complications, the ability to perform the test at home and low cost. Send the stool sample to a participating laboratory and see a doctor if the test is positive.

• 4

  Ask the doctor about scheduling a sigmoidoscopy. The doctor uses a lighted scope to examine the lower part of the colon. Although this test doesn't examine the entire colon, your doctor might recommend this less invasive test between colonoscopies.

• 5

  Consider scheduling a colonoscopy. Doctors recommend colonoscopies for everyone over age 50 and may advise them for younger people in high-risk groups. A colonoscopy allows the doctor to examine the entire colon with a lighted scope.

• 6

  Explore new screening tests under investigation in clinical trials. For example, virtual colonoscopies use CT scan equipment to take pictures of the colon, checking for abnormalities. This test is not invasive and requires no sedation.