Your doctor has several methods to detect colon cancer in both its precancerous and cancerous stages, making this disease easier to treat. ColoScreen is one of these methods, and its results may help determine if a colonoscopy is necessary. Two...
The large intestine is over 6 feet long, with the last 6 inches or so forming the rectum and the anal canal, which ends at the body opening called the anus. Rectal cancer forms in the rectum, usually starting in the tissue that lines the inside...
Colon cancer is the third-most common cancer in both men and women in the United States. For men it is surpassed by prostate and lung cancer, and for women by breast and lung cancer. Though not preventable, colon cancer has a high cure rate when...
According to Emedtv.com, a colonoscopy is a test that enables the direct visualization of the lining of the colon and rectum. A flexible lighted fiberoptic tube is usually inserted into the colon. A colonoscopy is used to help diagnose...
Physicians frequently order fecal tests for occult blood for their patients. The test can help determine if the patient has colorectal cancer or bleeding throughout their gastrointestinal tract. It is called an occult blood test because it can...
A hemoccult test or fecal occult blood test might be indicated if you notice a change in your stool color or blood in your stool. The test detects abnormal gastrointestinal bleeding and can aid in the early diagnosis of colon cancer. But the exact...
Blood tests are commonly used to measure various components in the blood that can detect disease or disease risk. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, blood tests can be used to measure blood components such as hemoglobin,...
When undergoing any medical test or procedure, you are given instructions from your doctor on how to prepare for the test. The Fecal Occult Blood Test, also known as the Stool Occult test, is used to screen for colon cancer in its early stages by...
Blood appears in the stool for various reasons, including infection, cancer, digestive disorders and open wounds, such as hemorrhoids and ulcers. Blood may be visible to the human eye in some cases, suggesting the blood is from the lower...
A hemoccult is a paper slide test designed to look for traces of blood in your stool. It is used to help screen for disorders in your intestine such as colon cancer. The hemoccult test should collect stool samples from three different days and...
Patients who suffer from symptoms that indicate a suspected case of colon, or bowel, cancer may need to undergo a series of tests. The tests may include blood tests, the use of scopes to view the inside of the colon, x-rays and CT scans, as listed...
Iron is an essential mineral to the human body; iron transports oxygen to red blood cells and aides the body in cell growth and development. The body receives iron by consuming foods high in the mineral, such as meat, beans and lentils. A variety...
Blood in the stool is alarming. It's often due to an injury or disorder of the digestive tract. Appearance of blood in the stool can range from bright red to black and can originate from any part of the digestive tract, according to the University...
Colon cancer drastically changes patients' lives. People worry about family, continuing their jobs and keeping their jobs. Life with colon cancer has medical and non-medical components. Non-medical components include support groups and possibly...
Colon cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the lower intestine, or bowel. According to MayoClinic.com, colon cancer often originates from tiny growths that cause few detectable symptoms; therefore, doctors recommend regular testing for colon...
The National Cancer Institute estimates that every year in the United States 21,000 people are diagnosed with stomach cancer and more than 100,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer. Signs and symptoms of colon and stomach cancer are similar...
The colon makes up the major portion of the large intestine, which serves to complete the digestive process. Polyps, bits of swollen or overdeveloped membrane, sometimes grow inside the colon. Though initially benign, some polyps develop into...
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases describes Crohn's disease as an inflammatory, ongoing and hard-to-diagnose disease of the bowel. Distinguished by its involvement in all layers of the bowel interspersed by...
Fresh blood in the stool is caused by bleeding in the digestive system. When the blood is fresh, it is generally caused by bleeding from the rectum or from the lower colon, because blood from higher in the gastrointestinal system (such as the...
Colon cancer is a silent killer. This disease claims the lives of more than 50,000 individuals per year and is curable if discovered early. Often, the symptoms bring the individual into the clinic too late, when options and survival rates are...
If you have brittle nails, you may be suffering from the most common form of anemia: iron deficiency. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 20 percent of all women, 50 percent of pregnant women and 3 percent of men lack the right...
The colon is another name for the large intestine. The colon is primarily responsible for absorbing water and compacting fecal matter, although it can also absorb certain nutrients (primarily vitamins). The colon is lined by cells called...
It is really a medical professional who should first spot colorectal concerns in your body. Signs that are noticed during screenings are usually growths called polyps or other early indications of precancerous or cancerous conditions. These can...
Colon cancer is a potentially curable disease if caught early. Cure rates are up to 95 percent and 85 percent for stage I and stage II disease respectively. The American Cancer Society, ACS, recommends screening for colon cancer at age 50 years...
Rectal bleeding is a common occurrence but can often cause people to fear the worst. A singular event of bright red bleeding from the rectum may indicate something as simple as a cut close to the anus. Chronic rectal bleeding may signal a number...
A stool test can check for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract -- the tissues extending from your mouth, into your throat, stomach, intestines, colon and rectum. It can test for the presence of infectious particles like bacteria and viruses,...
When the symptoms of colon cancer occur, a prompt diagnosis is required, according to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Because there may be few symptoms of colon cancer until the disease has progressed, routine screening is...
Sudden weight loss in elderly people can lead to irreversible health problems or be a sign that serious health problems are occurring. Testing and nutritional monitoring can show physicians or caregivers why mysterious weight loss occurs within...
Dietary residue is any indigestible part of food, including both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and becomes gelatinous, which slows movement of food through the intestines. It helps control the amount of glucose that...