SharonA,

As catspaw indicated, CT scans are not the best choice if colon cancer is strongly suspected. With a colonoscopy, you can remove polyps. You can take biopsies. You can't do that with a CT scan.
If a person does get a CT scan and a tumor is seen, you may need to have a colonoscopy anyway, to get a biopsy.

I am NOT saying that a colonoscopy IS the way to go. That would depend on a lot of things that (I hope) Bobert told his doctor, such as: 1) whether or not his IBS was DEFINITELY diagnosed as IBS
    2) when he last had a colonoscopy
    3) where the pain is
    4) what makes it worse and what makes it better
    5) what runs in his family
    6) what surgeries has he had already
    7) etc., etc.

I did not say a CT scan was the wrong way to go. I said he should question it, not that he should refuse it.

Kent