Bowel Cancer Screening
Easy & non-invasive screening that looks for hidden blood in the stool, which can be a sign of cancerous or precancerous growths in the bowel. If blood is found in your sample, further follow up will be required.
We test for:
Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
Benefits:
Collection Methods
Stool Sample
Please note that this screening test is recommended for those aged above 50 with an average risk of colorectal cancer.
What to know
What to know
Bowel cancer often has no symptoms in the early stages when it's most treatable. This is why early, and regular, colon cancer screening is so important.
If symptoms do occur, they can include:
Blood visible in the stool
Changes in your bowel habits.
Blood in or on your stool (bowel movement).
Abdominal pain, aches, or cramps that don’t go away.
Unexplained weight loss.
It's important to remember that screening tests are for people who don't have any symptoms to help diagnose conditions at an earlier stage. If you have already noticed blood in your stool, or any other symptoms, screening is not suitable and you should talk to your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Other tests such as a colonoscopy may be required.
There is a possibility that screening may not detect blood in the stool of someone who has cancer, which is called a false negative. It is very important to talk to your doctor if you have any symptoms or concerns, even if your results are normal.
Fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) detects microscopic blood in the stool, meaning blood that's invisible to the naked eye.
FIT cannot diagnose cancer - it is a form of screening, which means it can help identify when there is a problem (i.e. bleeding) in the colon or rectum that needs to be followed up with your healthcare provider.
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 other causes of blood in the stool, including precancerous polyps and colon cancer. The next step is usually a colonoscopy, which involves a specialist physician examining the inside of your colon and rectum, allowing them to take samples (biopsies) of any abnormal areas.
The LetsGetChecked FIT 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 health with your doctor. Talk to your healthcare provider about the most suitable test for you.
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, which type of screening is right for you, and how often you should perform screening.
The sample must be collected on a Monday - Thursday and returned on the same day.
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
The Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is a screening test for bowel cancer. It checks for hidden blood in the stool which can happen for many reasons, one of which is bowel cancer. This test will not diagnose bowel cancer, but it can help detect that you need further follow up with your physician and you may require further testing in the form of a colonoscopy.
This screening identifies blood in the stool, which may be invisible to the naked eye. If you have already noted blood in the stool, or any other relevant symptoms, you should talk to your doctor. The type of screening you may need and when to start that process depends on your individual situation. For certain age groups, free screening programs are also available. It is very important to talk to your GP about the most suitable screening tests and when to begin screening.
You can also consider screening if:
You are experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms
You have a history of adenomas (benign tumors)
You have inflammatory bowel infection* (which includes Crohn's infection and ulcerative colitis)
You have an inherited syndrome (e.g. Lynch syndrome/HNPCC or FAP)
You have type 2 diabetes
You have undergone radiation therapy
*Those with inflammatory bowel infections (IBD) are at an increased risk of developing bowel cancer. If you have IBD your result may also be positive due to bleeding and inflammation in your bowel.
Before you collect your sample:
Do not collect your sample during your menstrual period.
There is a possibility that this testing may not identify blood in the stool of someone who has cancer. This is called a false negative. It is very important to talk to your doctor if you have any symptoms, even if your test results are normal.
When to collect your sample:
The sample must be collected on a Monday - Thursday and returned immediately using the carrier method provided within the sample collection kit*. Each of our sample collection kits includes a prepaid delivery envelope to return your samples to the laboratory.
With over 10 million tests taken, the reviews are in
Great service. Test kit arrived shortly after ordering it. Test kit easy to use. Packing easy to use. Results back quickly. It gives me peace of mind as history of bowel cancer in family.
Sent test off on Thursday via UPS and had the result by midday the following day. Great to have peace of mind in the shortest possible time.
This was my 2nd bowel testing kit as I’ve opted to check every six months for reassurance and peace of mind. The test and returning is so simple and my results were incredibly quick - within 24 hours. I’ve recommended this to family and friends.
Eventually I psyched myself up and decided to pay for my own test, and it couldn’t have been simpler. I received results within a week, which put my mind at rest. The service was prompt, professional and well supported. I would highly recommend it!
I have already recommended to my friends. Someone close to me was recently diagnosed with bowel cancer, so it made sense to pay for this service for peace of mind. Very simple from start to finish and the results were easy understand.
Not expensive and much less hassle than having to go through my GP. Has calmed my concerns over potential for illness at this stage and advised 2 yearly testing as am now of age to monitor.
I am so impressed with Let’sGetChecked, both myself and partner sent tests off for Bowel screening and within 3 days we where called by a nurse who provided and explained our results.
Excellent service and very quick. Whilst my test came back all clear, it was great to have the phone call with their professional staff to discuss my symptoms etc and provide some guidance.
I ordered ..your package arrived a few days later and within the week my negative results ! Brilliant service .. husband's appointment isn’t for another month !
I highly recommend this FIT testing kit. The instructions are so easy to follow & the results are quickly processed. There is also further support from a nurse with good knowledge about bowel health. I would use this test again.
How it works
Collect your sample
Activate your home collection kit and collect your sample in the morning. Return your sample on the same day, using the prepaid shipping label provided.
Review secure results
Once your sample arrives in the laboratory, confidential results will be available from your secure online account in ~2-5 days.
Get medical support
Our dedicated clinical team is here to support you and may call you to explain your results and provide guidance on your next steps.
Still have questions?
Here are some questions we usually get about LetsGetChecked. If you would like yours answered, please contact us.
It is recommended to get screened from the age of 45, or younger if you have a family history of bowel cancer.
For this test, a small stool sample is required. This is a non-invasive sample collection that can be done from home.
Activating the kit connects you to the unique alphanumeric barcode within your LetsGetChecked sample collection kit box. The laboratory cannot process your sample if the kit is not activated and linked to you. You should only activate your kit when you are ready to take your sample.
Yes. LetsGetChecked has a team of healthcare providers (included doctors, nurses and healthcare clinicians) who will review your order and results and have created detailed result breakdowns for your testing journey.
Our clinical team is on standby throughout the testing process and, if your test results are abnormal, you may receive a call to discuss your results and the next steps.
Please ensure that the sample is collected on a Monday - Thursday and returned immediately using the carrier method provided within the sample collection kit*. Each of our kits includes a prepaid delivery envelope to return your samples to the laboratory.
Please do not collect or return samples on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Keeping your personal data secure is important to us. We use appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure security and confidentiality of your information, and only share your information where required to deliver our products and services or where we have a legal basis to do so. All samples are disposed of following analysis.
Your samples are analysed with CE-marked tests in the same labs used by primary care providers, hospitals, and government programs.
LetsGetChecked laboratories are CPA-approved and ISO certified, which are the highest levels of accreditation.
Our home sample collection kits are manufactured within our ISO 13485 certified facility, the highest level of accreditation for medical devices.
We don't accept insurance at this time. We work to keep our tests as affordable as possible and our test costs are generally lower than the costs incurred from a trip to a healthcare provider.
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