A drinkable solution of barium sulphate and water. The barium outlines the intestines on the x-rays. These x-rays permit the detection of colon and rectal abnormalities including diverticulosis, diverticulitis, abnormal colon movement, dilation (widening) of the colon, polyps and cancers of the colon and rectum.

Not cancerous. Benign tumours do not invade adjacent tissues and are unable to spread to other body parts. As such, benign tumours generally are not life threatening. However, cells in some benign tumours can change so that they become malignant or cancerous.

The process of removing tissue from living patients to investigate the presence, extent and cause of disease.

Another name for the intestine including the colon, rectum and anus.

Bowel is short for two things: small bowel and large bowel. The small bowel is another name for the small intestine. The large bowel is another name for the large intestine So, "bowel cancer" may refer to cancer of either the small or large intestine, or both. If it refers to cancer of the large intestine, then it is the same thing as colorectal cancer.  

Forced emptying of one's bowels, especially as a result of taking a laxative. This cleanses the bowel of faecal and other matter to assure clear evaluation of the bowel.