How can colon cancer be diagnosed?

Colon cancer is most effectively diagnosed with a colonoscopy. This procedure allows a physician to visually inspect the interior lining of the colon and rectum using a long, flexible tube equipped with a camera. During the colonoscopy, if any suspicious polyps or lesions are found, the doctor can also perform a biopsy, removing a small sample of tissue for further examination. This direct visualization and sampling method is invaluable in identifying not only the presence of cancer but also in distinguishing it from benign conditions.

Other diagnostic methods may play a supportive role, such as blood tests that can reveal elevated levels of certain markers, or imaging techniques like X-rays, but they do not provide the same level of detail or direct evidence that a colonoscopy does. Additionally, a physical exam alone is insufficient for diagnosing colon cancer as it cannot adequately assess the internal structures of the colon. The colonoscopy is thus the gold standard for confirming the diagnosis of colon cancer.