What Basic Tests Can Help Diagnose Colon Cancer?

What Basic Tests Can Help Diagnose Colon Cancer? (0:48)

Two tests are used to diagnose colon cancer: a rectal exam or a colonoscopy. In this video, Daniel Labow, MD, an oncology surgeon at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, explains what is involved with both medical tests.

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Is a basic test that involves a rectal exam where you test the stool for blood to make sure there's not microscopic blood in the stool that can be done at the bed side and done very quickly and easy and you can have your answer right away, but to to be diagnose [xx] with colon cancer requires colonoscopy, which is inserting a flexible tube with a telescope at the end to see the entire surface of the colon and any growths or abnormalities that may be inside there.