Editing Patient Pathways: Colon Cancer (section)

== 1. Diagnostics ==

The patient presents with symptoms such as blood in the stool, increased abdominal discomfort, changes in habits - hardness, color or frequency of stools, unexplained weight loss, prolonged fatigue and unexplained weakness of the intestines, general or localized abdominal pain.

'''Consultation with a general practitioner (GP):''' The patient visits a general practitioner. 

'''Medical history and physical examination:''' Detailed patient history. 

'''Initial tests:''' colonoscopy and non-invasive tests.

'''Referral to a specialist''' Referral to a radiologist and oncologist.

'''Diagnostic evaluation'''

'''Hemoccult:''' Detects blood in the stool that is not visible to the naked eye - it is used as the basis for screening in Croatia. 

'''Colonoscopy:''' a method by which the doctor examines the inside of the entire large intestine and during which it is possible to remove smaller polyps and see suspicious formations. 

'''Radiological blood tests (CT, NMR, Lung X-ray, PET CT):''' Gives us information about the local spread of the disease and possible metastases. 

'''Blood tests:''' CEA, CA 19-9: tumor markers, give us information about the presence of cancer cells 

'''CKS:''' detects anemia (‘anemia’) which occurs due to bleeding from the tumor into the interior of the intestines 

'''Genetic tests:''' We use them when the patient is of a younger age or if there is a family history of that or related types of cancer.

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