Screening should start with a visit to your GP who will discuss with you the various screening methods available and the potential benefits of each.

Your GP may then decide you should be referred to a specialist colorectal surgeon or gastroenterologist.

There are a number of screening methods available.

• Faecal Occult Blood Test
  
  A simple test that can be done at home. The test detects tiny amounts of blood, often released from bowel cancers or their precursors (polyps or adenomas) into the stool. FOBT can’t actually tell if you have cancer, but is used to identify people who require further testing.  Not all polyps are detected by FOBT & some small cancers can occasionally be missed, which reduces its effectiveness as an ideal screening method.
  
  For more information visit www.enterix.com.au
• Rectal Examination
  
  The simplest form of internal rectal examination in which a doctor simply feels for any irregularities in the lowest part of the bowel.
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
  
  A flexible tube is used to examine the rectum and lower colon for polyps & cancer. It views about one third of the colon.
• Colonoscopy
  
  A long, flexible tube, with a tiny lens on the tip, is inserted into the rectum then guided around the colon. During colonoscopy, the doctor can remove polyps and take some tissue (a biopsy) to test for cancer.  Colonoscopy is the most effective screening method, as it finds polyps and removes them.
• Virtual colonoscopy
  
  This is a type of CT scan that gives a picture of the colon. If a virtual colonoscopy shows a problem, then a colonoscopy will be needed to enable removal of growths. While the least invasive method, a Virtual Colonoscopy does not detect all polyps, which reduces its effectiveness as a screening method.
• Barium Enema
  
  Barium, a white liquid, is delivered into the rectum using a small tube. Air is used to make sure the barium finds its way into creases in the bowel & shows up clearly when x-rays are taken. This screening method detects about 90 per cent of bowel cancers, but can easily miss small polyps, making it less accurate than a colonoscopy.