Colorectal Cancer Info > Glossary of TermsColorectal Cancer Glossary of Terms
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A
Anus — The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body.
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C
Cancer — A disease in which cells grow out of control. Cancer cells
can invade nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body.
Colon — The long, coiled, tube-like organ (also
known as large bowel or large intestine) that removes water from digested food.
The remaining material, solid waste called "stool," moves through the colon and
the rectum and leaves the body through the anus. Parts of the colon include:
cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and sigmoid colon.
The average colon is approximately 6 feet long.
Colonoscope — A flexible, lighted instrument
with a built-in tiny camera used to view the inside of the entire colon and
rectum.
Colonoscopy — An examination in which the
doctor looks at the internal walls of the entire colon through a flexible,
lighted instrument called a colonoscope. The doctor may collect samples of
tissue or cells for closer examination. The doctor may also remove polyps during
colonoscopy.
Colorectal — Related to the colon, rectum, or
both.
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D
Double Contrast Barium Enema — A series of x-rays of the colon and
rectum. The x-rays are taken after the patient is given an enema, followed by an
injection of air. The barium outlines the intestines on the x-rays, allowing
many abnormal growths to be visible.
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F
Fecal Occult Blood Test — A test to check for hidden blood in stool.
Fecal refers to stool. Occult means hidden. Sometimes called "F.O.B.T" (also see
"Stool Test").
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy — Also called
proctosigmoidoscopy. A procedure in which the doctor looks inside the
rectum and the lower portion of the colon (sigmoid colon) through a flexible,
lighted tube called a sigmoidoscope. The doctor may collect samples of tissue or
cells for closer examination and remove some polyps within view.
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G
Gastroenterologist — A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and
treating disorders of the digestive system (which includes the esophagus,
stomach, pancreas, intestines, and liver).
Gastrointestinal Tract — The
part of the digestive tract where the body processes food and eliminates waste.
It includes the esophagus, stomach, liver, intestines, and rectum.
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I
Intestine — The long, tube-shaped organ in the abdomen, also called
the "bowel", that completes the process of digestion. There are both a large and
small intestine.
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P
Polyp — An abnormal, often precancerous growth of tissue (colorectal
polyps are growths of tissue inside the intestine).
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R
Rectum — The last 8 to 10 inches of the large intestine. The rectum
stores solid waste until it leaves the body through the anus.
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S
Screening Test — "Screening tests" are tests used to check, or screen,
for disease when there are no symptoms. Screening tests for colorectal cancer
include: fecal occult blood test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and double contrast barium enema. (When a
test is performed to find out why symptoms exist, it is called a "diagnostic"
test).
Sigmoidoscope — A flexible, lighted
instrument with a built-in tiny camera that allows the doctor to view the lining
of the rectum and lower portion of the colon.
Stool — The waste matter discharged in a bowel
movement; feces.
Stool Test — A test to check for hidden blood
in the bowel movement (also see Fecal Occult Blood Test).
Sources for definitions: National Cancer Institute and
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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