Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Diagnosis of Cancer of the colon, rectum or bowel

The diagnosis is made on the basis of the symptoms, the appearance of the stools, feeling the cancer area with a gloved finger during a rectal examination, direct examination of the inside of the rectum with a viewing tube called a sigmoidoscope, and the taking of a small piece of the suspected cancerous tissue for microscopic examination (biopsy). Sigmoidoscopy examines the rectum and lower part of the bowel.  Colonoscopy examines the whole of the inside of the bowel.

You may also have a barium enema (an x-ray of the large bowel). For this test you will need to have an empty bowel, and will probably need to take laxatives the day before.You may also have a bowel washout, which involves washing out your bowel with water that is passed through a tube in and out of your rectum.

A white liquid called barium is then passed through the rectum in the same way as the washout while the specialist views the bowel on an x-ray screen. Barium is used because it shows up on an x-ray and helps the specialist notice any irregularities.

Sometimes, you may be asked to provide a sample of your stools for a faecal blood test.This is a chemical test that looks for traces of blood in the stools. However, this test is not always reliable and the diagnosis will usually need to be confirmed with other tests.

• Caesarean sectionCancerCancer of the bile ductCancer of the bladderCancer of the boneCancer of the brainCancer of the breastCancer of the breast, maleCancer of the cervixCancer of the colon, rectum or bowelCancer of the kidneyCancer of the larynxCancer of the liverCancer of the lungCancer of the mouthCancer of the oesophagusCancer of the ovaryCancer of the pancreasCancer of the prostateCancer of the skinCancer of the stomachCancer of the testicleCancer of the thyroidCancer of the uterusCancer of the vaginaCancer of the vulvaCarbon monoxide poisoningCarersCarpal tunnel syndromeCartilage damageCataract surgeryCataractsCatarrhCavernous sinus thrombosisCEA testCellulitisCerebral palsyCerebrovascular diseaseCervical screening testCervical spondylosisCharcot-Marie-Tooth diseaseChemotherapyChest infectionChickenpoxChildren in careChiropracticChlamydiaChloride testCholesterolChorionic Villus samplingChronic fatigue syndromeChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCircumcisionCirrhosisCleft lip and palateClinical trialsClub footCoeliac diseaseCognitive behavioural therapyCold soreCold, commonColicColostomyColour vision deficiencyColposcopyCombined contraceptive pillComplaints about NHS servicesComplementary therapiesComplex Regional Pain SyndromeCondoms (male and female)Congenital heart diseaseCongestive heart failureConjunctivitisConsent to treatmentConstipationContraceptionContraceptive implants and injectionsContraceptive patchCoronary angioplastyCoronary artery bypassCoronary heart diseaseCorticosteroid (drugs)Corticosteroid preparations (topical)Cosmetic surgeryCoughCounsellingCradle capCraniosynostosisCreutzfeldt-Jakob diseaseCrohn's diseaseCroupCT scanCushing's syndromeCuts and grazesCystic fibrosisCystitisCystoscopyCytomegalovirus

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