There are two different tests available – the
fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and
colonoscopy. Learn about the results for each test below.
After you take the fecal immunochemical test (FIT), you can access your test result on Health Gateway Otherwise, you can contact your health care provider for your result.
You will not be notified by mail if your FIT result is normal. If you have an abnormal result, you will be contacted by the health care team in your community regarding further follow-up. The health care team will assess your condition and book a colonoscopy procedure if appropriate, or let you know if other monitoring or treatment is advised.
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A normal result means that no blood was found in the stool sample you submitted. Regular screening offers the best chance of detecting the early signs of cancer. Current screening guidelines recommend screening every two years until age 74.
If you have bowel symptoms or other health concerns, contact a health care provider.
An abnormal FIT result means that blood was found in your stool (poop) sample. Abnormal FIT results are common and do NOT mean that you have cancer, but it is important to attend the recommended follow-up to investigate what may have caused your abnormal FIT result.
On average, 10-15% of people screened with FIT have an abnormal result and need more testing. This does not mean that cancer was found – over 96% of people with an abnormal FIT result will not have cancer.
Some of these patients may have polyps, which are small growths that can develop in the colon or rectum, often with no symptoms in the early stages of growth. Most polyps will never turn into cancer, and for those that do, it will take many years for this transition, which is why people between the ages of 50 to 74 years should be screened regularly.
If you get an abnormal FIT result, do not repeat the test in hopes of getting a different result. Even if you get a normal FIT result on a later test, the recommendation to get a colonoscopy would not change. The cause of the blood found in your original sample still needs to be found.
- The Colon Screening Program recommends that all abnormal FIT results be followed up with a colonoscopy. Even if the second test is normal, the Colon Screening Program recommends follow-up colonoscopy.
- No screening test is perfect. Some polyps and/or cancers may have been bleeding at the time of the first FIT but not bleeding when you took the second FIT which may explain the difference in results. Or, the second sample (the negative result) was taken from a part of your stool that had little to no blood.
An abnormal FIT result means that blood was found in your stool (poop) sample. The FIT can only tell us that you may be bleeding from somewhere in your lower digestive tract. It cannot tell us from which part or why.
FIT is a screening test that can only find blood in the stool. FIT is not a diagnostic test. This means that while the FIT can find one sign that may indicate cancer (blood in the stool), it cannot be used to diagnose cancer.
There may be several different reasons why blood was found in your stool, including hemorrhoids (sometimes painless or internal), ulcers, anal fissures, diverticular disease, or inflammation. If you have an abnormal FIT result, it is important that you go to all follow-up appointments to find out why the result was abnormal.
After you get your abnormal FIT result in the mail or on Health Gateway, a patient coordinator will contact you. A patient coordinator is a nurse that works with your local health authority. They will assess you and book a colonoscopy if appropriate, or let you know if other monitoring or treatment is recommended.
If you get an abnormal FIT result, do not repeat the test in hopes of getting a different result. Even if you get a normal FIT result on a later test, the recommendation to get a colonoscopy would not change. The cause of the blood found in your original sample still needs to be investigated.
Please speak with a health care provider if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Blood in your stool (poop)
- Abdominal pain
- Change in bowel habits
- Unexplained weight loss
Colonoscopy is a procedure that allows a colonoscopist to see the inside lining of the rectum and colon using a special instrument called a colonoscope. A colonoscope is a flexible tube with a miniature camera attached to one end so that the colonoscopist can take pictures and videos of your colon. During a colonoscopy, tissue samples can be collected and abnormal growths can be removed.
Colonoscopy can help you get ahead of cancer. An abnormal FIT result means that blood was found in your stool (poop) and it is important to find the cause of the bleeding.
Going to your scheduled colonoscopy appointment helps to reduce your risk of colon cancer.
The FIT is a good test, but no test is 100% accurate. There is a chance that cancer can be missed if it was not bleeding when the screening test was taken. However, regular screening offers the best chance of detecting early signs of cancer.
You will be given preliminary results before you leave the hospital. Then, approximately two weeks after your procedure, the patient coordinator or the colonoscopist will inform you of your complete results and answer your questions during the follow-up call. You and your health care provider will also receive your results by mail and on Health Gateway.
If your colonoscopy is normal, your personal history will determine when you will be re-screened. Your patient coordinator or colonoscopist will advise you of your next screening date.
If your colonoscopy is abnormal, further procedures or more regular surveillance may be necessary. The patient coordinator, colonoscopist, or health care provider will explain the process for further appointments and next steps.
If you have low risk polyps removed during your colonoscopy, the recommendation for your next screening has been updated.
There is new evidence to suggest that people with low risk polyps removed from the colon and rectum are at lower risk of future colorectal cancer than previously thought.
The BC Guidelines and Protocol Advisory Committee updated the colon screening guidelines to reflect the latest evidence on colorectal cancer risk.
The update is based on research showing that individuals with low risk polyps removed from the colon and rectum are at lower risk of future colorectal cancer than previously thought.
Your screening recommendation depends on a few factors including the number of low risk polyps found during previous colonoscopies as well as your family history.
You may need colonoscopies less frequently or screen using the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) instead. We will contact you and the health care provider via a letter and Health Gateway with your updated screening recommendation.
No, this does not mean you are at higher risk of getting colorectal cancer between now and your next screen.
Yes, the Colon Screening Program has also sent your primary care provider a letter advising them of this change.
Screening programs are for people who are not experiencing symptoms. If you have any symptoms such as blood in the stool, change in bowel habits, persistent abdominal pain or unexplained weight loss, then please see a health care provider for assessment.
Please see a health care provider if you have more questions about the change in your screening recommendation.
