FIT Test Order Form

The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) detects microscopic blood in the stool, meaning blood that is invisible to the naked eye. There are many reasons why blood may be present in the stool, including hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), stomach ulcers, and polyps (non-cancerous growths). However, there may be more worrying causes of blood in the stool, including precancerous polyps and colon cancer.

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FIT will not give you a diagnosis of cancer - it is a colon cancer screening test, which means it can help identify when there is a problem (i.e. bleeding) in the colon that needs to be followed up with your healthcare provider. The next step is usually a colonoscopy, which involves a specialist physician examining the inside of your colon, allowing them to take samples (biopsies) of any abnormal areas.

A colonoscopy is the gold standard for screening and diagnosing colon cancer, but getting one is not always easy or convenient. The FIT test is a great first step in your colon cancer screening journey if you want to take action now and start those conversations on protecting your colon health with your doctor.

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If you think you may be at a higher risk for colon cancer based on your personal or family history, talk to your healthcare provider about when to start screening, what screening test is right for you, and how often you should be tested.

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The Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is a screening test for colon cancer. It checks for hidden blood in the stool which may indicate the presence of colon cancer, or other benign conditions of the digestive tract (e.g. hemorrhoids). This test will not diagnose colon cancer, but it can help detect that you need further assessment by your physician and you may require further testing in the form of a colonoscopy.

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The sample must be collected on a Monday - Friday and returned on the same day.

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Colon cancer often has no symptoms in the early stages. This is why early, and regular, colon cancer screening is so important.

If symptoms do occur they may include:

• Blood visible in the stool

• A change in bowel movements (diarrhea, constipation, or loose stool)

• Feeling that your bowels have not emptied completely

• Rectal bleeding or discomfort

• Unexplained discomfort, pain, or bloating in the abdomen

• Unintentional weight loss (you may notice a drop in your clothing size, needing to tighten your belt, or rings feeling looser on your fingers)

• Fatigue, weakness, or low energy

If you have noticed any of these symptoms, you should talk to your healthcare provider about appropriate testing.

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What if my test result is positive?

A positive FIT result means that blood was detected in your stool. It’s important to remember that this is not a diagnosis. There are many reasons why this may happen and you need to follow up with your healthcare provider for further investigation to determine the cause. Your healthcare provider will want to take a detailed history of any symptoms you may be having, any medical conditions you have, and whether you have a history of colon cancer or polyps in your family. Based on this, they will likely recommend further investigation, usually with a colonoscopy.

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