Home use tests are a useful element in your proactive healthcare regime but are not intended to replace a consultation with your General Practitioner or other suitably qualified healthcare provider. If you have any concerns regarding your health always consult your G.P.

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Bowel cancer (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 bowel 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.