Frequently Asked Questions About Colorectal Cancer

Print out these questions and answers to discuss with your doctor.

1. I'm a 45 year-old man with no family history of colorectal cancer or polyps. Should I start getting tested for colon cancer? What are the different types of tests for this cancer??

Because you don't have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, you are considered at average risk for colorectal cancer. Men with average risk should begin prevention examinations at age 50. The recommended screening guidelines to detect early stage lesions and polyps for men at average risk include the following:

Fecal occult blood test This test examines the stool for blood not easily noticed by the naked eye. For men at average risk of colorectal cancer, this test should be given every year starting at age 50.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a routine outpatient procedure in which a physician uses a sigmoidoscope (a long, flexible instrument about 1/2 inch in diameter) to view the lining of the rectum and the lower third of the colon (called the sigmoid and descending colon). This test is usually done every 5 years and can be used in combination with the yearly fecal occult blood test.
Air contrast barium enema Sometimes a doctor will use a test called air contrast barium enema. This test is an X-ray examination of the entire colon and rectum in which barium and air are introduced gradually into the colon by a rectal tube to improve visualization. Doctors typically recommend this test (sometimes in combination with flexible sigmoidoscopy) every 5-10 years, starting at age 50.
Colonoscopy This is an outpatient procedure in which the rectum and the inside of the entire colon are examined. During a colonoscopy, a doctor uses a long, flexible instrument about 1/2 inch in diameter to view the lining of the colon. This test is recommended every 10 years, starting at age 50.

2. I found a little bit of blood in my stool. Could I have colorectal cancer?

The earliest sign of colorectal cancer may be bleeding. But, if you find blood in your stool, don't panic. A number of different illnesses can cause bleeding, not just colon cancer. If you find blood in your stool, see your doctor so that a correct diagnosis can be made and proper treatment received.

Other symptoms to look out for if you suspect colon cancer include:

Change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea)
Unusual stomach or gas pains
Very narrow stool
A feeling that the bowel has not emptied completely after passing stool
Unexplained weight loss
Fatigue

3. I recently had a colonoscopy and my doctor said they removed an adenoma during the procedure. What is an adenoma?

An adenoma is a benign, or non-cancerous polyp or growth in the lining of the large intestine. Adenomas are considered to be precursors (the first stage) of colon and rectal cancer.

All cancers of the colon and rectum begin as an adenoma, but few adenomas (only 1 or 2 out of 100) ever become malignant (cancerous). This process takes several years. When polyps are discovered during an examination of the colon (such as the colonoscopy), doctors sometimes find it hard to tell which are pre-cancerous and which are not. Even among adenomas it is impossible to tell which ones will become malignant. For this reason, all polyps in the colon and rectum are removed.

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WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic