Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) - Colorectal Cancer Testing Just Got Easier

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cancer killer in Alabama, but it is largely preventable. If you’re 50 or older, please get screened. Screening finds precancerous polyps, so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. And screening finds colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best.

New technology makes screening affordable, easy, and convenient. Screening can be done at home without a colonoscopy by using Fecal Immunochemical Tests. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT), also called an immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT), is a newer kind of test that detects hidden blood in the stool. This test reacts to part of the human hemoglobin protein, which is found on red blood cells.If the results are positive for hidden blood, a colonoscopy is needed to investigate further. In order to be beneficial the test must be repeated every year.

Listen to the FIT Radio Spots

Who Should Be Screened for Colorectal Cancer?

Most people should start screening tests at age 50. If you have a personal or family history of colon polyps or colorectal cancer, you may need to start earlier.

What is FIT?

• FIT stands for Fecal Immunochemical Test (fee-kuhl-im-you-no-KIM-uh-kuhl).
• FIT is a take-home stool screening test for colorectal cancer.
• FIT can show if there is hidden blood in your stool (bowel movement).

Why Get FIT?

• It is easy to do.
• It is done in the privacy of your home.
• There are no special changes to diets or medicines.

How Often Should I Get FIT?

If your results are negative, you should do a FIT test every year.

What if My Results Come Back Positive?

If this test is positive, a colonoscopy is needed to see if there is cancer, a polyp, or other cause of bleeding. When colorectal cancer is found and treated early, it can be cured. When polyps are found and removed, colorectal cancer is actually prevented.

What Is Colorectal Cancer?

Colorectal cancer is cancer that occurs in the colon or rectum. Sometimes it is called colon cancer. The colon is the large intestine or large bowel. The rectum is the passageway that connects the colon to the anus.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, but it doesn’t have to be. If everyone aged 50 years or older had regular screening tests, at least 60% of deaths from this cancer could be avoided. So if you are 50 or older, start getting screened now.

Both men and women can get it, It is most often found in people 50 or older, and the risk increases with age.

• Your risk for colorectal cancer may be higher than average if:
• You or a close relative have had colorectal polypor colorectal cancer.
• You have inflammatory bowel disease.
• You have a genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer.

People at high risk for colorectal cancer may need earlier or more frequent tests than other people. Talk to your doctor about when to begin screening and how often you should be tested.

Colorectal cancer usually starts from polyps in the colon or rectum. A polyp is a growth that shouldn’t be there. Over time, some polyps can turn into cancer. Colon Polyp Screening tests can find polyps, so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests also can find colorectal cancer early. When it is found early, the chance of being cured is good.

Colorectal cancer can start with no symptoms. Precancerous polyps and early-stage colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. This means that someone could have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it.

How is the FIT Collected?

To collect your samples, have all of your supplies ready and in one place. Supplies will include a test kit, test cards, long brushes, waste bags, and a mailing envelope. The kit will give you detailed instructions on how to collect the specimen. The instructions below can be used as a guide, but the instructions on your kit might be a little different. Always follow the instructions on your kit.

• Flush the toilet before your bowel movement. After you go, place used toilet paper in the waste bag from the kit, not in the toilet.
• Brush the surface of the stool with one of the brushes, then dip the brush in the toilet water. Dab the end of the brush onto one of the slots in the test card or slide.
• Close the slot and put your name and the date on the test kit.
• Repeat the test on your next bowel movement if instructed. Most tests require collecting more than one sample from different bowel movements. This improves the accuracy of the test because many cancers don't bleed all of the time, and blood may not be present in all stool samples.
• Place the test kit in the mailing envelope provided and return it to your doctor or lab as soon as possible (but within 14 days of taking the first sample).

Learn more about colorectal cancer and the cancer screenings available through the CDC's Screen for Life campaign.

FITWAY Alabama - Colorectal Cancer Prevention Program Brochure (1 MB)

Challenge Colon Cancer - The Blue Brush Test

Beads of Hope

The Alabama Sheriffs Association, American Cancer Society, Avon Foundation, and the Coffee County Family Services Center collaborated to produce Beads of Hope, a breast cancer awareness video. The video requires Windows Media Player to play.

The Minority Health & Research Center houses three grants from the Center for Disease Control/Alabama Department of Public Health to conduct community-based research and develop the Alabama State cancer awareness plan in Colorectal, Ovarian and Prostate Cancer prevention and control. For more information on these projects, click here.

Video/Picture Source: UAB Minority Health & Research Center

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