Why Stool Test for Colon Cancer Can Save Lives
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in many parts of the world, including Europe, where it causes more than 200,000 deaths each year [1]. The good news is that it usually develops slowly [2]. That is why early colorectal cancer screening is so valuable: If detected early, colorectal cancer can in most cases be treated effectively before changes in the colon become more serious.
One simple way to screen for colon cancer is with a FIT test. A FIT test is a stool test that can be done at home and checks for hidden bleeding in the digestive tract. Because it is easy to perform and does not require an invasive procedure, it can be a practical first step in colon cancer screening.
What is Colorectal Cancer and Why Does Screening Makes so Much Sense?
Colorectal cancer develops in the colon or rectum when cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled way. In more than 90% of cases, it starts from benign growths called polyps. These polyps are not cancer at first, but over time they can change.
This process is usually slow. It can take up to ten years for a benign polyp to develop into colon cancer. That is exactly why colon cancer screening is so important: when polyps are found early, they can often be removed during a colonoscopy before they become cancerous – even when they have reached a larger size.
One challenge is that early colorectal cancer and its precursors often cause no symptoms at all. Many people feel well. By the time symptoms appear, the disease may already be more advanced. Early screening helps detect changes long before they are noticeable [3].
Why Test for Occul Blood in Stool?
The most important methods for colorectal cancer screening are colonoscopy and FIT-based stool tests. While a colonoscopy allows doctors to examine the colon directly, a FIT test offers a simple way to check for possible warning signs at home.
A FIT test uses antibodies to detect tiny amounts of occult blood in stool that are not visible to the eye. Occult blood can be an early warning sign of polyps, colorectal cancer, or other changes in the lower digestive tract [4].
Compared with a colonoscopy, which is considered the gold standard, a FIT test is non-invasive and easy to perform. It is widely recommended as an initial screening tool because it is simple, practical, and reliable [5]. FIT tests do not require dietary restrictions and can be fully performed at home.
Colon Cancer Screening With FIT Test is Simple
As a rapid test, it can be completed in less than 20 minutes and helps identify possible abnormalities in the colon.
- Easy home test with no special preparation
- Non-invasive and simple to perform
- practical and helps avoid a late diagnosis
- Highly accurate and very useful as a complement to colonoscopy between regular screening appointments
Does a Positive FIT Test Mean Cancer?
No. A positive FIT test means blood was found in the stool, but that does not automatically mean you have cancer. There are several non-cancer causes of blood in the stool, and positive results are not uncommon. The important next step is a follow-up colonoscopy. This helps clarify what is causing the bleeding in the colon and provides clear answers. A positive stool test is not a diagnosis – it is a signal that a closer look is needed.
Which FIT Test is Best?
Preventis SmarTest® FIT Home and PreventID® CC are two simple and highly reliable rapid tests that detect occult blood in stool: you only need to collect a small stool sample and place it into the sample solution. Both tests are for colorectal cancer screening at home. A prepared stool sample is applied to the test cassette together with a solution. In both cases, the result is available after only 10 or 15 minutes.
PreventID® CC is a qualitative FIT test, which means the result is simply positive or negative.
Preventis SmarTest® FIT Home is a smartphone-based FIT test that combines a test kit with the SmarTest FIT® app. After the sample and solution reacts on the test strip, the result is analyzed using only the smartphone camera. The app measures the color intensity of the test strip and calculates a precise quantitative value (numerical result) comparable to the lab. The smartphone-based stool test has been clinically validated by one of Europe’s most respected cancer institutes – the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) – in a large screening study. Preventis SmarTest® FIT Home showed high accuracy, performing similarly to the lab-based FIT while offering the possibility to test at home – without sending a sample to a lab.
This is How The SmarTest FIT® Test Works
Test for Colon Cancer Screening: Comparison Chart
What Percentage of Positive FIT Tests Are Cancer?
A positive FIT test result does not automatically mean cancer. In fact, only about 3% of people with a positive FIT result are later diagnosed with colorectal cancer. That means most positive results have other causes.
A positive result shows that a closer check is needed. This is why a colonoscopy is the recommended next step: it helps clarify the result and find out what is really causing the bleeding. It is recommended to have a follow-up colonoscopy within nine months after a positive FIT test. Waiting longer than nine months can noticeably increase the risk, which is why it is best to arrange this follow-up within that time frame.
This is an important point for anyone who feels worried: a positive FIT test should be taken seriously, but it does not mean a cancer diagnosis [6].
Don’t Wait for Symptoms to Speak Up!
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers – but with regular screening, it can often be detected early, when treatment is most effective. Modern FIT-based home tests are a simple and reliable way to check for warning signs.
Preventis SmarTest® FIT Home and PreventID® CC offer a fast and convenient way to test from home without bowel preparation or a doctor’s visit.
Which Test for Colon Cancer Screening Is Right for Me?
- You prefer a precise, quantitative result like in the lab, and feel comfortable using a smartphone to analyze the test strip over the smartphone-camera yourself? Then Preventis SmarTest® FIT Home is the right choice for you.
- You prefer a simple stool test without app and are comfortable with a straightforward positive/negative result? Then PreventID® CC is the right choice for you.
