Addenbrooke's Hospital
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Screening test results
Bowel Cancer Screening
You should receive a results letter from the laboratory within two weeks of sending in your sample. There are three types of results you could receive.
Normal result
This means that blood was not found in your test sample. Most people (about 98 out of 100) will receive a normal result. A small number of these people will have repeated the test due to an unclear result.
A normal result does not guarantee that you do not have or will never develop bowel cancer in the future, so being aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer is very important. You will be offered bowel cancer screening again in two years.
Unclear result
This means there was a slight suggestion of blood in your FOB test sample. This could have been caused by conditions such as haemorrhoids (piles) or stomach ulcers.
Receiving an unclear result does not mean you have cancer, just that you need to repeat the FOB test.
If you receive an unclear result, you will be asked to complete the FOB test up to two more times. This is necessary because polyps and cancers do not bleed all the time and it is important to find out whether or not there is blood in your stools.
About four people out of every 100 will receive an unclear result. Most people who repeat the test will then receive a normal result.
Abnormal result
This shows that blood may have been found in your FOB test sample – it is not a diagnosis of bowel cancer, but it does mean that you will be offered a colonoscopy.
The abnormal result may have been caused by bleeding from bowel polyps, rather than a bowel cancer. It may also have been caused by other conditions, such as haemorrhoids (piles).
If you receive an abnormal result, you will be offered an appointment with a specialist nurse at a screening centre local to you. This is to discuss having a more detailed examination of your bowel (a colonoscopy); to see whether or not there is a problem that may need treatment. About 2 in every 100 people doing the test will have an abnormal result.
Summary of screening results:
Normal
No further tests are needed. You will be invited to take part in screening again in two years.
Unclear
Repeat the FOB test.
Abnormal
You will be offered an appointment with a specialist screening practitioner at the hospital local to you: Addenbrooke’s Hospital, West Suffolk Hospital or The Princess Alexandra Hospital Harlow. This is to discuss having a more detailed examination of your bowel (a colonoscopy); to see whether or not there is a problem that may need treatment.
This appointment will be made within fourteen days of the test being received.
A colonoscopy will be offered within two weeks of the first appointment. All colonoscopies are undertaken at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Follow up appointments as required will be undertaken at the patients’ local hospital.
Bowel Cancer Screening Freephone helpline:
0800 707 60 60
If you have been invited for bowel cancer screening, and have any questions about the kit, you should call the freephone number above.
If you are worried about a specific problem or symptom, or otherwise worried about the risks of bowel cancer, then you should talk to your GP.
On other websites:
> Listen to Bowel Cancer Screening audio leaflets
