If your doctor suspects you have bowel cancer, you may have some of the tests described here, 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
Podcast: Tests and Cancer
Listen to more episodes of our podcast for people affected by cancer
More resources
A/Prof David A Clark, Senior Colorectal Surgeon, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD, The University of Queensland and The University of Sydney; Yvette Adams, Consumer; Dr Cameron Bell, Gastroenterologist, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Katie Benton, Advanced Dietitian Cancer Care, Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Queensland Health, QLD; John Clements, Consumer; Dr Fiona Day, Medical Oncologist, Calvary Mater Newcastle, NSW; Alana Fitzgibbon, Clinical Nurse Consultant, GastroIntestinal Cancers, Cancer Services, Royal Hobart Hospital, TAS; Prof Alexander Heriot, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Director Cancer Surgery, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and Director, Lower GI Tumour Stream, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, VIC; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Dr Kirsten van Gysen, Radiation Oncologist, Nepean Cancer Care Centre, NSW.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
