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Your GP will need to consider the possible causes of your symptoms. She or he will ask you questions about your symptoms and look at your medical history to see what illnesses you have had in the past.
She or he may feel your abdomen to see if there are any swellings.
She or he may then carry out an internal examination. For this, the doctor will place a gloved finger inside your back passage, to feel for anything unusual.
She or he may also take a sample of your blood, to be tested in a laboratory. This is to see whether you have anaemia.
Your GP may decide to send you to see a specialist at your local hospital.
At the hospital you are likely to have one or more of these diagnostic tests:
Sigmoidoscopy
A sigmoidoscopy is a way to look at the inside of the rectum (back passage). There are two types of sigmoidoscopy - a rigid sigmoidoscopy or a flexible sigmoidoscopy.
- The rigid sigmoidoscope is a small metal or plastic tube, through which a type of torch can be threaded. This allows the doctor or nurse to get a detailed view of the inside of your rectum. Sometimes a small sample of tissue (a biopsy) is taken for further examination.
- Alternatively, a thin, lighted telescopic instrument called a flexible sigmoidoscope may be used.
The flexible tube is gently inserted through your back passage. This lets the doctor see pictures of the inner lining of your rectum and sigmoid colon on a video screen. This is the part of the colon where most bowel cancer occurs. Sometimes a small sample of tissue (a biopsy) is taken for further examination.
If something abnormal is found, it may be necessary for you to have the rest of your colon examined. This is beyond the reach of the sigmoidoscope, so it will be done by a longer telescope (a colonoscope) or a special x-ray (Barium enema).
For more information on a sigmoidoscopy, click here.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a test that allows your doctor to have a good view of the whole length of your large bowel. A flexible, telescopic tube camera will be gently passed through your rectum (back passage) and along your large bowel. A sample of the bowel lining (a biopsy) may be taken for testing. It is possible to remove polyps if they are found.
For more information on a Colonoscopy, click here.
Barium enema
A barium enema is when a liquid called 'barium sulphate' is used to coat the wall of your bowel, allowing the inside of the large bowel to be shown when looked at with x-rays.
Your consent
Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent.
Results
If non-cancerous polyps have been discovered and removed, you will probably be asked to return within five years for a repeat colonoscopy to make sure that no more polyps are growing.
If cancer is diagnosed you may want emotional and practical support and advice for yourself and your family. You will find more information in the sections What will life be like after treatment? and Where can I get more information?.
The Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist will be able to answer many of your questions and signpost you to further sources of support.
Further tests
If cancer is detected, you may need further tests, to find out the spread of the cancer. Click here for more information on further tests for bowel (colorectal) cancer.
There is more information about individual tests in our cancer tests section of the website.
