We offer advanced screening options for colorectal cancer to detect the condition in its earliest stages.
Colon cancer is among the most common cancers in the United States, affecting more than 130,000 men and women each year. Rectal Cancer is a relatively common disease in the United States, affecting about 40,000 people each year. Anal cancer is less common, but can be aggressive. Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when it is detected early.
Our colorectal cancer specialists can pinpoint the precise location and stage of the cancer. We offer the most advanced diagnostic tools and screening tests to help us find and treat tumors.
Schedule your colonoscopy today. Call us at (877) 672-7336.
Get Screened
Colorectal cancer screening is the best means to catch pre-cancerous polyps and diagnose colon cancer at its earliest stage, when it’s treatable and curable.
A 2017 study led by American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers revealed that new cases of colon cancer and rectal cancer are occurring at an increasing rate among young and middle-aged adults throughout the United States. That is part of the reason why the ACS and other cancer experts now recommend that for those with an average risk (no family history of colon cancer or other risk factors) colon and rectal screenings should take place at age 45, rather than the previous recommendation of 50. Patients with a first-degree relative diagnosed with colorectal cancer should start at age 40, or at 10 years younger than the age the relative was diagnosed.
Colon cancer screening
Your doctor may detect cancer during a routine examination or during a colonoscopy or other screening exam. Sometimes, screening methods other than colonoscopies are a good option for a patient. We are sensitive to individual preferences and offer the full range of colorectal cancer screening tests. A doctor may order one or more of the following:
Colonoscopy: a physician inserts a colonoscope (flexible tube with a camera and source of light) to evaluate the inside of the colon. The vast majority of colonoscopies are performed as part of screening for colon cancer. Physicians may order these exams as follow-up if we find the suspected cancer through a blood test or other screening tests. These give the doctor a clear view of your colon.
Sigmoidoscopy: similar to a colonoscopy, the doctor is using a sigmoidoscope (flexible tube with camera and light) to evaluate the colon and the rectum. The physician is able to see the entire rectum but less than half the colon with this exam.
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT): A lab test that checks stool for early colon and rectal cancer.
Digital rectal exam (DRE): Your doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger to feel for cancer on the rectal wall.
Endoscopy: A physician inserts an endoscope (a flexible tube with a camera) into the mouth to the rectum and colon, to view and remove any abnormalities on the colon’s inner lining.
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test: This blood test measures the level of CEA. A higher than normal amount can be a sign of colorectal cancer.
Rigid sigmoidoscopy: A doctor uses a stiff optical scope to measure a tumor’s distance from the anus.
FIT (fecal immunochemical test) kit: This take home kit tests for hidden blood in the stool, which can be an early sign of cancer. If blood is found, then a colonoscopy would be recommended.
Cologuard at-home test (Every three to four years for average-risk patients). With this non-invasive, DNA-based colorectal screening test, patients collect their stool in a kit provided by their physician and ship it to the lab to be tested.
Colonoscopy or colon screening — what's the difference?
Less sensitive than a colonoscopy at detecting pre-cancerous polyps
Not recommended if family history of colon cancer, previous cancer or colon/rectum disease
Polyps will not be removed
At-home test misses one out of 13 people with cancer that would be detectable by colonoscopy
Results do not confirm whether cancer present
If cancer is detected, a colonoscopy is needed to confirm results and remove polyps
Receive results up to two weeks later
Recommended repeat testing every one to three years
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a reliable exam doctors use to find and remove abnormal tissue growths (polyps) in the colon. Colonoscopy has been proven to save lives with early detection and removal of polyps while they are small, easy to treat, and haven’t spread yet.
Though a colonoscopy is a routine exam, it’s normal to feel anxious. Our team will discuss every step of the procedure with you. After the test, we will discuss the results and any follow-up care with you.
Talk to your doctor about your colorectal cancer risk and your screening options. To make an appointment for your colonoscopy or to talk with your doctor about your risk, call (800) 436-7936.
Polyps are abnormal growths in the colon that may turn into cancer if left untreated. Polyps can:
Be large or small. Bigger polyps are more likely to be precancerous, which means they might lead to cancer.
Grow directly on the colon, or from a stalk. Polyps with a stalk are less likely to become cancerous.
Swell into the colon or rectum.
When doctors find polyps during colonoscopy, they often remove them immediately. This approach can decrease your risk of colon cancer.
Physicians may use one of two techniques to remove polyps. They can:
Destroy small polyps using an electrical current, called electrosurgery
Use a wire loop to snare and remove larger polyps
Your doctor will send the polyps to a pathology lab for more testing. It can take about a week to receive the results. If your doctor finds polyps during your colonoscopy, you may need further tests for an accurate diagnosis.
A colonoscopy takes about 30 minutes, but it requires some preparation. A day or two before a colonoscopy, your doctor will ask you to complete a bowel prep. This includes a liquid diet and strong laxatives to empty your colon -- stay near a bathroom as you may need to go frequently.
Here’s what to expect the day of the appointment:
The doctor will give you medicine so you will sleep through the colonoscopy and not feel any discomfort. You will need someone to go with you to the appointment, wait while you have the exam, and drive you home.
In a private room, a colorectal surgeon or gastroenterologist (a doctor who specializes in the intestinal tract and digestive organs) will use a colonoscope -- a thin tube, about the size of a finger, with a light and a tiny camera on the end.
The physician will carefully guide the colonoscope through the rectum and into the colon to view images of the inside of your colon on a screen.
You can go home after the test. You will probably still be sleepy from the medicine, but you can return to your usual activities the next day. Your physician will call you with the results of your colonoscopy.
Negative results mean the doctor did not find polyps. Your physician will advise you on when you should have another screening. If the doctor finds polyps, the doctor will biopsy the polyps they remove and examine the tissues for cancer under a microscope.
Precancerous polyps require regular follow-up colonoscopies. Your doctor might recommend additional procedures or testing right away.
Cancerous polyps require more treatment. Your doctor will explain our team’s recommendations to develop a treatment plan.
We offer a service called Open Access Colonoscopy. Patients can schedule routine screening colonoscopies without first going to a gastroenterologist. This saves patients time and money.
You may schedule an Open Access Colonoscopy as long as you are:
Between 50 and 80 years old
Referred to the endoscopist by the primary care physician
If you have multiple health concerns, a nurse will preview your medical records and consult a doctor first. Some insurance plans do not cover preventive health screenings. Check with your insurance carrier to determine your coverage.
Although most people who are diagnosed with colon cancer are older than age 40, some patients are younger. We may recommend genetic counseling for these younger patients and their family members.
If you may be at risk for an inherited cancer, we’ll work with you and our genetics team to recommend next steps. And, we’ll help you and your family members navigate any additional screening or care you may need.
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Henry Ford Health System is committed to ensuring our Deaf or hard-of-hearing patients and visitors have equal access to all services. We provide the appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including qualified sign language interpreters, TTYs and other assistive listening devices, at no cost. To request assistance, call 313-916-1896 or email CommunicationAccess@hfhs.org.
