Bowel Cancer Screening Test

Fecal Occult Blood

This test checks for the presence of occult blood in the stool, meaning it is invisible to the human eye. This is called a Fecal Immunochemical Test, FIT, or iFOBT. Occult blood in the stool can indicate colon polyps or cancer, and will require additional testing to verify the cause. Through this simple test, it can be determined whether trace amounts of blood are present in your stool, which could indicate conditions such as bowel cancer. This is a stool sample test that you can easily take from home. Your sample will then be examined by a certified laboratory and you will receive the results within a matter of days. It couldn’t be easier!

What are the most common symptoms of bowel cancer?

Bowel cancer usually develops slowly over a period of many years. It often begins as a non-cancerous—but abnormal—mass of tissue (called a “polyp”) that grows along the inner lining of the bowel or rectum. Polyps can eventually become cancerous.

In general, colorectal polyps will not cause symptoms. This is why routine screening is so important—so you can catch bowel cancer early and treat it accordingly.

We recommend speaking with your healthcare provider right away if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Change in bowel habits
• Alternating or chronic diarrhea or constipation
• Very thin stools
• Persistent urge to have a bowel movement
• Severe pain in the abdomen
• Blood in your stool or in the toilet

What do the results of this test mean?

The results of your test will either be negative or positive. A negative test result means that no blood was detected in your stool sample. An abnormal or positive FIT result means that there was blood found in your stool at the time of the test. A bowel polyp, precancerous polyp, or cancer can cause a positive FIT stool test. Additional testing may be necessary to identify the source of the bleeding. This does not mean that you have bowel cancer- simply that more investigation is needed.

Is this test a replacement for bowel cancer screening in the hospital?

While stool tests are less sensitive than colonoscopies at detecting abnormal growths in the bowel, they are less invasive and therefore may be more readily used by the general public. Therefore it has been suggested that stool testing may be more effective and less costly than other bowel cancer screening strategies (Quintero et al., 2012). However, FIT tests should be repeated annually, whereas colonoscopies are only needed once every ten years. Additionally, a positive FIT test means that additional screening is needed, such as a colonoscopy at the hospital.