Not Up For Colonoscopy? I Got You.

Many of my patients have not had colorectal cancer screening.

Even though such screening reduces the risk of dying of the disease, many point to the unpleasantness of a colonoscopy preparation (cleanout) as the reason.

I am coming to the view that while colonoscopy is the gold standard, it is expensive and unwieldy.

Photo by Afif Ramdhasuma on Unsplash

Now, I simply want to increase the suboptimal screening rate.

A new study also reminds us that simpler colorectal screening tests save lives.

What is FIT?

What is FIT?

It’s a fecal immunochemical test, a simple and convenient screening test for colorectal cancer that you can easily perform in the comfort of your home.

It checks for hidden (occult) blood in the stool, which can be an early sign of cancer.

Here’s how it works:

1. Sample collection: A small stool sample is collected at home using a special kit.
2. Testing: The sample goes to a lab, where it’s tested for the presence of blood using antibodies that specifically detect human hemoglobin.