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Colon Cancer Awareness Month Fact - Cancer Screening Tests

By Amber J. Tresca, About.com

Created: January 09, 2005

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

There are several tests that are used to detect colon cancer including fecal occult blood test, colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy and barium x-ray.

The fecal occult blood test is usually taken at home and can detect small amounts of blood in the stool that may be from polyps. A barium x-ray is a special type of x-ray where the patient drinks barium and is x-rayed several times while it passes throught the digestive system. A flexible sigmoidoscopy is used to look inside the body, but can only reach the last section of the colon.

The gold standard for colon cancer screening remains the colonoscopy. During a colonoscopy the entire colon can be screened, and any polyps can be removed immediately before they have any chance to become cancerous.

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Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

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