Bowel cancer screening

A Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) is used for early detection of bowel (colon) cancer. “People who are at high risk of developing bowel cancer due to family history should also have a colonoscopy every five years,” adds Dr Jill Thistlethwaite.

What’s involved? Using a supplied FOBT kit, you will need to provide two bowel motion samples. These are then tested for blood traces.

What next? “A positive screening test is not a diagnosis of cancer, but will require further testing,” says Dr Thistlethwaite.