Patient’s history

A personal history has to be taken.

The diagnostic procedure is generally indicated for patients with the following symptoms:

• For all ages: rectal bleeding with change in bowel habits to looseness or increased frequency over a period of six weeks and/or palpable abdominal mass and/or iron-deficiency anaemia without overt cause.
• Over 60 years: rectal bleeding without any symptoms, or change in bowel habits to looseness or increased frequency.

A family history has to be taken.

In order to determine the high risk groups, a screening two generation familial history should be taken to every patient with colon cancer.

If there are 1 or 2 family members diagnosed with colon cancer, if the patient is less than 50 years old or if the patient has concomitant or previous ovarian or endometrium cancer, a 3 generations extensive family history is required.

Patients with suspected hereditary conditions should be oriented to a Genetic Service.