Colonoscopy

Q:  I read your column on colon cancer with interest. My 40-year-old husband had some blood in his stool, leading to the discovery and removal of a noncancerous polyp with a sigmoidoscope (a device that can access about one-third to one-half of the colon). I'm concerned that something should have been done to look at the rest of his colon before reassuring us that all is well. Should he have a colonoscopy or a barium enema as well?

A:  What a perceptive question. The polyps that lead to colon cancer can occur anywhere in the large intestine, often beyond the reach of a sigmoidoscope. The removal of one visualized polyp does not guarantee the absence of polyps beyond the reach of the scope.

Key questions for you and your husband are:

1. Is there a family history' of colon cancer?

2. Was this an "adenomatous" polyp, i.e. one that could have become cancerous?

3. Has he had his stools checked for further bleeding now that this polyp has been removed and if so, has blood been again discovered?

If the answer to any of these questions is "yes", he would best benefit by a full colonoscopy. This test is the gold standard and is better than a barium enema in most cases, because it allows direct visualization of the intestine and can remove or biopsy suspicious growths.

"Your Health" provides easy-to-understand information about common health conditions.