Colon cancer screening in Los Angeles

If your GI doctor has referred you to have colon cancer screening in a Los Angelescolonoscopy lab, you should not ignore them. The process is usually straight forward and will not cost you much. You do not have to book an appointment while attending the lab as their 24hr service ensures there is always someone to attend to you. The screening will be able to detect whether there are cancerous cells in the colon and rectum as well as detect and find any polyps, non polypoid lesions and other digestive tract conditions that you might have.

Once the colonoscopy detects a problem in your colorectum, a diagnosis is made and treatment can be started immediately. If the problem is more gastro related, you will be referred to a GI specialist who will be able to do a more thorough check up on you. Early detection of the cancerous cells makes treatment all the more easier and you are more likely to survive an onslaught.

The colon cancer screening involves the following five methods.

   Fecal occult blood test

This test usually checks for any hidden blood in the stool of a patient. There are two types of fecal occult blood tests namely guaiac fecal occult blood test that uses the guaiac chemical to detect heme in stool samples and the immunochemical fecal occult blood test that uses antibodies to detect human hemoglobin protein in the stool samples of a patient.

   Sigmoidoscopy

This test uses a sigmoidoscope to check for cancerous or precancerous cells in the colon or the rectum. The device is able to detect the growth of these cancerous cells. This will result in either removal of the cancerous tissue or a biopsy can be done. Your doctor will be able to know the right procedure to follow.

     Colonoscopy

This test involves a colonoscope examining the whole of your colon and rectum and finding the cancerous and precancerous tissue. This test will be able to find the cells that the sigmoidoscope misses, usually cells at the top of your colon.

      Virtual colonoscopy

An X ray equipment is used to give detailed pictures of the colon and rectum which are then magnified to show whether there are any polyps or abnormalities present in your colon or rectum. 

    Double contrast barium enema

A patient is given an enema solution and then an x ray is done of the entire colon and rectum to find any cancerous tissues that are present.