Colon Cancer Screening in Florida

Patients should speak with their GI physician at Gastroenterology Associates of Florida regarding when they should go to a screening and what tests to have. One or more of following tests may be used for a colon cancer screening:

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy: A sigmoidoscopy will be used to view the inner lower colon and rectum. A finger-sized tube with a camera attached (called a sigmoidoscope) will enter the rectum and images will be taken the inner wall as well as part of your colon. It can be used so we can take a biopsy of the tumor or polyp and also getting rid of some polyps. But a colonoscopy needs to be completed to get a look at all of the colon] and remove all polyps or tumors. It is fairly safe but there is a small chance of the bowel tearing, bleeding, and infection.
  • Colonoscopy: A colonoscope is similar to sigmoidoscope, but it is longer and is used to view the inner wall of the whole colon. The colonoscope is put in through the rectum and the GI specialist can see the images of the entire colon on our computer system. GI tools may be introduced into the colonoscope to take the biopsy and extract polyps. A form of sedation is applied. There is a minimal chance of the bowel tearing, bleeding, and/or infection occurring after the procedure.
• Virtual colonoscopy: Virtual colonoscopy is a computed tomography scan of the colon. The person is asked to lie on the treatment table where our CT scanner will take cross-section images of the colon. It is a noninvasive technique and doesn't require any sedation. If any abnormalities are detected, a colonoscopy will need to be done to remove the tumors or polyps.
• Double-contrast barium enema: A little tube is inserted into the rectum and barium sulfate, or a liquid that is white and chalky, and air are pumped into your colon. The barium suspension will line the outer walls of the colon. X-rays of the colon are then taken to showcase any abnormalities on the inner wall of your colon. If any abnormalities are identified, a colonoscopy needs to be done to extract the tumors or polyps.
• Fecal test: Fecal tests are completed with the fecal sample and are very safe. Fecal tests might not provide confirmatory results but could suggest abnormalities in your GI tract, necessitating more tests. A colonoscopy needs to be performed if positive results are shown, indicating cancerous growths in the colon. Our Florida gastroenterologists performed three different types of fecal tests:
  • Stool DNA tests look for certain abnormal DNA genes in the cells discarded from cancerous growths or polyps in your stool sample.
  • Fecal immunochemical tests that detect blood through a certain immunochemical reaction of protein in your blood and is often able to find hidden blood.
  • Fecal occult blood tests detect blood in the feces not visible to the eye through a chemical reaction.