When screening for colon or rectal cancer detects an abnormality or symptoms related to the disease, a diagnostic test should soon be recommended by your doctor.

There are several tests by which your doctor can examine the colon and rectum and inspect for polyps or tumors, but the most widely accepted form is a colonoscopy. During a colonoscopy, a tube with a lighted end is used to examine the colon and rectum. A doctor can even remove samples from a polyp or tumor while performing a colonoscopy. However, other approved tests include a double-contrast barium enema, a flexible sigmoidoscopy and computed tomography (CT) scans.

If the doctor finds anything that may be cancerous, a biopsy should be performed, which is when tissue is removed for testing. The tissue removed by the doctor is sent to a laboratory to be tested by a pathologist who microscopically examines the cells of the tumor to see if cancer is present. If so, a positive diagnosis can be made, and the results are compiled in a pathology report.

Should colon cancer be diagnosed, the stage of the cancer is very important since a higher stage means a lower rate of survival. There are five stages of colon and rectal cancer. If your doctor misses your colorectal cancer or mistakes its symptoms as being caused by something else, the more likely the cancer’s stage will be advanced, and less treatable upon diagnosis.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Georgia and feel it was detected late or entirely missed by your doctor, contact an experienced Fulton County medical malpractice and colorectal cancer attorney at the Dover Law Firm at 770-518-1133 to arrange a free consultation. The Dover Law Firm also has numerous free resources available to you upon request, such as our report, Colon and Rectal Cancers: The Risks, the Signs, Diagnosis and Treatment.