Colon cancer can be highly treatable when it is found early, but screening is key. For people who are hesitant about scheduling a colonoscopy, an at-home FIT test may offer a simpler way to start the conversation with their doctor.
“We've been seeing it more often in younger ages,” said Dr. Tulin Ahmad, an internal medicine physician with Lee Health.
The CDC said most people should begin colorectal cancer screening soon after turning 45 and continue screening at regular intervals. Stool-based tests, including the fecal immunochemical test, or FIT, can be done at home and are generally repeated every year.
While colonoscopy remains the gold standard screening tool and can allow doctors to see inside the colon and remove polyps, it is not the only option for everyone.
“Not everybody feels comfortable with doing the colonoscopy, and that's okay, because there is now easy testing at home that you can do, which helps to detect the disease earlier too,” Dr. Ahmad said.
A FIT test checks for hidden blood in the stool, which can be an early warning sign of abnormalities in the colon. The test is completed at home using a collection kit and then mailed to a lab for results.
“This tests for the blood in the stool, which is important to detect it every year,” Dr. Ahmad said. “If there was blood in the stool, that means there's abnormalities in the colon and we need to act on it as soon as possible.”
The process is designed to be simple: open the kit, place the collection paper on the toilet, collect a small sample, return it to the tube, shake it and mail it back according to the kit instructions.
A positive FIT test does not automatically mean someone has colon cancer. It does mean more evaluation is needed.
“If the stool sample came back positive, that does not mean 100% that this patient has colon cancer,” Dr. Ahmad said. “However, we do need to do further evaluation and do colonoscopy to just confirm it.”
Health experts say people with symptoms, a family history of colorectal cancer or other risk factors should talk with their doctor about whether they need to start screening earlier or use a different screening approach.
For those who qualify, a FIT test may be an affordable and convenient way to help detect colon cancer earlier from home. Talk with your doctor about your screening options and whether an at-home FIT test is right for you.
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Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.
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