If your doctor suspects you have bowel cancer, you may have some of the tests described in this section but you are unlikely to need them all. Some tests may be repeated during or after treatment to check how well treatment is working. It may take up to a week to get your test results. If waiting for test results makes you feel anxious, it may help to talk to a friend or family member, or call Cancer Council 13 11 20 for support.
Learn more about:
- General tests
- Tests to find cancer in the bowel
- Further tests
- How to prepare your bowels before diagnostic tests
→ READ MORE: General tests for bowel cancer
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Prof Alexander Heriot, Colorectal Surgeon and Director Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Director, Lower GI Tumour Stream, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Cameron Bell, Gastroenterologist, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Graham Borgas, Consumer; Prof Michael Bourke, Director of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Westmead Hospital, The University of Sydney, NSW; Laura Carman, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria, VIC; Amanda Connolly, Specialist Bowel Care Nurse, Icon Cancer Centre Windsor Gardens, SA; A/Prof Melissa Eastgate, Operations Director, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Anne Marie Lyons, Stomal Therapy Nurse, Concord Repatriation General Hospital and NSW Stoma Ltd, NSW; Lisa Nicholson, Manager Bowel Care Services, Bowel Cancer Australia, NSW; Stefanie Simnadis, Clinical Dietitian, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, WA; Rafi Sharif, Consumer; Dr Kirsten van Gysen, Radiation Oncologist, The Nepean Cancer and Wellness Centre, NSW; Sarah Williams, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Lower GI, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC.
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