Making the Diagnosis
A fecal occult blood test is usually done as part of a routine screening. This test requires you to provide a stool sample to look for hidden blood. Hidden blood in the stool doesn't automatically mean you have colon cancer. Your doctor will need to do further tests to find out why there is blood in your stool.
The colonoscopy is the primary screening method used for people at high risk of developing colon cancer. An endoscope, a flexible fiber-optic tube, is inserted into the colon to look for bleeding, polyps, or tumors. If any growths are found, the doctor will take a tissue sample (biopsy). Alternatively a polyp may be completely removed or destroyed during the procedure. The procedure is not painful, though it can be a little uncomfortable. You may be offered medication to help you relax during this procedure.