Updated 2/23/2024: There is a system outage and certain functions, such as scheduling, may not be available today. We will call patients to schedule any upcoming appointments when the system is back online. Our clinics remain open and previously scheduled appointments will continue as planned. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Colon & Rectal Cancer Diagnosis

Colon & Rectal Cancer Diagnosis

If you have screening test results that suggest cancer or you have symptoms, your doctor must find out whether they are due to cancer or some other cause. Your doctor asks about your personal and family medical history and gives you a physical exam. You may have one or more of the tests described in the “Screening” section.

If your physical exam and test results do not suggest cancer, your doctor may decide that no further tests are needed and no treatment is necessary. However, your doctor may recommend a schedule for checkups.

If tests show an abnormal area (such as a polyp), a biopsy to check for cancer cells may be necessary. Often, the abnormal tissue can be removed during colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. A pathologist checks the tissue for cancer cells using a microscope.