This screening test is called a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT).
It’s a simple, non-invasive test that can be performed in your own home then posted to the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program’s pathology laboratory for analysis.
This test will detect any blood in your faeces. Blood may be present due to bowel cancers or their early-stage form, known as polyps or adenomas.
If blood is detected, this could be an early warning sign that you may have bowel cancer, however your medical specialist will determine the cause of the bleeding by other means, such as a colonoscopy, to make a full diagnosis.
If no blood is detected, then your risk of having bowel cancer is very low. An FOBT every two years is recommended.
