Can a colonoscopy detect colon and rectal cancer?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 26, 2024
00:00
00:00

Colonoscopy can detect colon and rectal cancers. By conducting a colonoscopy, it can be determined whether a space-occupying lesion is in the colon or the rectum. In the workplace, it can also confirm the distance from the anus in centimeters, to guide the next steps of surgical treatment. If a colon or rectal tumor is found during colonoscopy, a pathological biopsy may be needed. Combined with the pathological biopsy, a diagnosis can be made whether the patient has colon cancer or rectal cancer. At the same time, colonoscopy can also detect other diseases, such as colon polyps, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease of the colon, and so on.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
31sec home-news-image

Can you eat edamame after rectal cancer surgery?

Patients with rectal cancer can eat edamame after surgery. However, they should pay attention to the following dietary advice post-surgery: First, eat less or avoid animal fats, which means limiting the intake of saturated fatty acids. Second, even the consumption of vegetable oils should be limited. Third, do not eat fried foods. Fourth, during cooking, oils should not be overheated. Fifth, eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
55sec home-news-image

Is rectal cancer without metastasis curable?

Can rectal cancer without metastases be treated successfully? If rectal cancer has not metastasized, its prognosis and outcome are relatively much better compared to cases where there are metastases and recurrences. If surgery is performed for rectal cancer and there is no recurrence or metastasis afterwards, then the five-year survival rate is naturally higher. However, if rectal cancer is initially treated surgically and cleaned thoroughly but then quickly recurs, with liver metastases, lung metastases, etc., then the five-year survival rate would be much lower. Therefore, if rectal cancer has not metastasized, the treatment and prognosis are much better. Thus, if there is no liver or lung metastasis in rectal cancer, the treatment is relatively easier.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gong Chun
Oncology
53sec home-news-image

Postoperative Diet and Care for Rectal Cancer

Firstly, rectal cancer is a malignant tumor of the digestive tract, so after surgery, it is recommended to eat foods that are easy to digest and absorb. Secondly, do not smoke, abstain from alcohol, and avoid spicy and irritating foods. Thirdly, it is advised not to eat indigestible foods, such as bean products and foods that cause gas, and to consume them in smaller quantities. Fourthly, rectal cancer may deplete a large amount of nutrients in the body, coupled with the damage from surgery, so it is essential to ensure a nutrition-rich diet, consume nutritious foods such as soups, easily digestible congee, and high-quality proteins to increase the body's nutrients. Fifthly, attention should be paid to timely adding clothing to avoid catching a cold.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
54sec home-news-image

How to differentiate rectal cancer from hemorrhoids

Rectal cancer is a malignant lesion, with clinical symptoms mainly causing an increase in the frequency of bowel movements, changes in stool characteristics such as grooved stools or stools with mucus and pus and blood. Severe patients may experience abdominal pain, weight loss, anemia, and other accompanying symptoms. Generally, low-lying rectal cancer can be seen during a digital rectal examination or with an anoscope. If the cancer is located higher up, an electronic colonoscopy is needed to see the cauliflower-like mass. Hemorrhoids, on the other hand, are benign lesions often caused by improper diet or poor bowel habits, leading to pathological hypertrophy and descent of the anal cushions. They are mostly characterized by intermittent painless rectal bleeding with bright red blood, along with a feeling of heaviness and a foreign body sensation in the anus.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Cui Fang Bo
Oncology
40sec home-news-image

Can the anus be preserved if the rectal cancer is 3 cm away from the anus?

When rectal cancer is 3cm from the anus, it generally isn't possible to preserve the anus. Currently, the commonly used surgical methods for rectal cancer are the Dixon and Miles techniques. Generally, the threshold is 5cm from the anus; when the tumor is within 5cm of the anus, it often necessitates a Miles procedure, which does not preserve the anus. When the tumor is more than 5cm from the anus, an anus-preserving Dixon procedure can be performed. However, in considering the radical resection of rectal cancer, preserving the anus should not be the primary choice; instead, the main goal should be curative.