WHY TAKE THE FAECAL OCCULT BLOOD TEST?
The Hemoccult®BRAND faecal occult blood test (FOBT) is used to test for occult (hidden) blood in your stool. Bowel cancer has very few, if any, symptoms in its early stages and usually begins with a benign (pre-cancerous) polyp. If detected sufficiently early, these polyps can be removed and the cancer can be prevented. Pre-cancerous polyps and cancers bleed and this blood can be detected in the stool. Bleeding can occur intermittently or be found in only one part of the stool and can be so small in amount as to be hidden (occult). Hemoccult®BRAND tests for hidden blood on three different days and in different areas of the stool, greatly increasing the chances of detection. An FOBT is a non-invasive test which is easily performed in the comfort of your home and it is the most clinically studied and efficient screening method for the detection of bowel polyps and bowel cancer. WHO SHOULD BE TESTED? The worldwide recommendation for bowel cancer screening is to start at the age of 45 or 5
