is there another way to detect colon cancer than by a fecal sample?

2 Comments

  • heckenhocker says:

    CT scan, MRI, PET scan, x-ray, colonoscopy can all be used in the detection of colon tumors. They are used as follow-up tools for patients who have gone through surgery / chemo / radiation. Once a tumor is noted, biopsy is necessary to establish if there is cancer (some tumours are benign).

    But they would generally only be used for a patient already showing other symptoms, or with a positive fecal sample. Colonoscopy is sometimes used routinely from a certain age as part of a screening program.

    Fecal sample does not establish cancer – it shows only that there is blood in the stool. This can be caused by other issues (e.g. colitis)

  • Denisedds says:

    You can’t detect cancer with a fecal sample. If it is not found on a screening colonoscopy than it is ordinarily due to the patient’s symptoms and if possible a colonoscopy is done at that time. If it is terrible sufficient the patient will go straight to surgery a biopsy is not necessary.