A double-contrast barium enema (also called DCBE or barium enema) uses X-rays to find abnormal growths in the colon. It is a form of colorectal cancer screening.
Barium, a silver-white metallic compound, is used to outline the colon and rectum on the X-ray. Air is then passed through the same tube to further enhance the X-ray.
DCBEs are commonly used to diagnose colorectal cancer and inflammatory disease. They can also help detect polyps, diverticulitis, and structural changes in the large intestine.
Many plans cover it, socheck with your policy holder. Medicare varies, as sometimes this procedure may be substituted for a colonoscopy.
Who decides who pays for screening
For many cancer patients, the end of active treatment brings a new kind of dread. Scans every few months and anxious waits for results. A blood test is changing that experience for a growing number of patients.
When Helen was diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer, the biggest concern for her medical team was that her cancer had spread to her liver. One type of therapy, hepatic artery infusion, offered a path forward, but there was a catch. Nobody at her hospital had ever done it before. She'd have to be first.
hrough Project Cure CRC, the Alliance is fueling bold, early-stage research with the potential to transform colorectal cancer treatment. Dr. Lisa Mielke’s groundbreaking work explores how the gut’s immune system and nerve signaling influence cancer growth—opening the door to new therapeutic approaches, including repurposed existing drugs. This is what’s possible when promising ideas get the support they need to move forward.