Bowel Health (Colon Polyps) Test
A home bowel cancer test kit which
looks for blood in
stools (poo!) This can be a warning sign for bowel problems including
bowel cancer. Early detection of bowel problems can be very
important. Most cases of blood in stools are nothing to worry about
but should always be checked out by your doctor.
Why is this tbowel cancer test important to me?
A home bowel
cancer test is important because 95% of all cases of colon (bowel) cancer
result from benign pre-stages, so-called polyps. This means that this
type of cancer is one of the few where the development of tumours can
be prevented by early intervention. If the polyp is found in time and
removed, it can halt the development of bowel cancer.
How do I
perform the test?
A sample of your stool (faeces) is taken with a stick and inserted
into a tube pre-filled with a buffer solution. A drop of this mixture
is then placed on the test strip for evaluation.
What does the
result tell me?
If the bowel
cancer test shows a positive result (two lines in the window), you can
assume that there is blood in your stool. This should be examined by a
doctor. Please note: blood in the stool can have other causes (e.g.
haemorrhoids). If colon polyps are detected, it is the size of the
polyp that determines the risk of colon cancer.
Why is
testing so important?
Polyps in the colon usually cause no problem and may go unnoticed for
many years. But early detection of colon cancer is very important: the
chance of survival is higher than 90% if the cancer is detected and
treated in its early stages.
How does this
test work?
The bowel cancer test detects
invisible (so-called occult or hidden) traces of blood in the stool.
The test detects human bleeding specifically and accurately and is not
influenced by diet.
How high are
my chances of developing colon cancer?
Regular testing alone can can help in the early detection of polyps. The cause
of bowel cancer is largely unknown. However, a yearly faecal occult
(blood in the stool) test is recommended from the age of 40. If colon
polyps have been diagnosed in parents or siblings this test should be
performed at an earlier age, and at shorter intervals. Genetic
predisposition is a significant risk factor.
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