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11/13/24, 8\:16 PM Guide | Bowel cancer screening

Bowel cancer screening

Table of contents

Introduction

Bowel cancer screening tests are used to identify the presence of blood in the stool.
Blood may be present in the stool for a variety of reasons including\:
Bowel cancer
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
Gastroenteritis
Anal
Haemorrhoids

Opening the consultation

Wash your hands and don PPE if appropriate.
Introduce yourself to the patient including your name and role.
Con

Explaining the screening program

In England, bowel cancer screening is recommended every two years for men and women aged between 60 and 74 and in
those patients with a family history of colorectal carcinoma.
The bowel cancer screening test involves a kit that the patient uses at home.
The kit currently used in England is the faecal immunochemical test kit (known as the FIT kit). A previous generation of the kit
was known as the faecal occult blood test kit (FOB kit), however, this is now being gradually phased out.
The FIT kit requires the collection of a single stool sample in a small plastic sample bottle which is then posted back to a
laboratory for testing.
Example explanation
" T h e b o w e l c a n c e r s c r e e n i n g t e s t f o r p e o p l e a ge d 6 0 o r o v e r i s a k i t y o u u s e a t h o m e . I t i n v o l v e s c o l l e c t i n g a s i n g l e s a m p l e o f
p o o i n t o a s m a l l p l a s t i c s a m p l e b o t t l e a n d t h e n p o s t i n g t h i s b a c k t o a l a b o r a t o r y f o r t e s t i n g. T h i s s a m p l e i s u s e d t o c h e c k f o r
t i n y a m o u n t s o f b l o o d i n y o u r p o o . I t d o e s n o t d i a gn o s e b o w e l c a n c e r , b u t i t' s a s i m p l e w a y t o
"

Stool sample collection

The following steps describe how to collect a stool sample using the FIT kit\:
1. Write the date on the sample bottle in biro.
2. Use a container or layers of toilet paper to catch the poo sample and don't let the poo touch the toilet water.
3. Twist the cap to open the sample bottle.
https\://app.geekymedics.com/osce-guides/counselling/bowel-cancer-screening/ 1/311/13/24, 8\:16 PM Guide | Bowel cancer screening
4. Collect a sample by scraping the stick along the poo until all grooves are covered. Only a small amount of poo is required for
the test.
5. Push the stick back into the sample bottle and click the cap to close it. Do not reopen the bottle after use.
6. Wash your hands
7. Put the sample bottle in the supplied return envelope.
8. Seal the envelope and post back to the laboratory.

Results

Results are posted back to the patient within 2 weeks of the sample being sent.
Normal result
A normal result means there was no blood identi
be invited to do another screening test in 2 years as long as they will be under 75 at that time.
Around 98 in 100 people receive a normal result.
Abnormal result
An abnormal result means that blood was identi
colonoscopy to further assess for evidence of bowel cancer.
Advise patients that a positive test result does not necessarily mean that they have bowel cancer, it simply means that blood
has been detected in the stool which may be due to a large number of conditions, many of which are easily treated.
Around 2 in 100 people receive an abnormal result.
Example explanation
" Y o u r r e s u l t s h o u l d b e p o s t e d t o y o u w i t h i n 2 w e e k s o f s e n d i n g o
"
" A n o r m a l r e s u l t m e a n s t h a t n o b l o o d w a s f o u n d i n y o u r p o o s a m p l e a n d t h e r e f o r e y o u d o n o t n e e d t o d o a n y t h i n g e l s e . Y o u' l l
b e i n v i t e d t o d o a n o t h e r s c r e e n i n g t e s t i n 2 y e a r s ( i f y o u' l l s t i l l b e u n d e r 7 5 b y t h e n ) . A r o u n d 9 8 i n 1 0 0 p e o p l e r e c e i v e a n o r m a l
r e s u l t .
"
" A n a b n o r m a l r e s u l t m e a n s t h a t b l o o d w a s f o u n d i n y o u r p o o s a m p l e , b u t t h i s d o e s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y m e a n y o u h a v e b o w e l
c a n c e r , a s t h e b l o o d m a y b e d u e t o o t h e r c o n d i t i o n s s u c h a s p i l e s . Y o u' l l b e o
f o r s i g n s o f b o w e l c a n c e r . A c o l o n o s c o p y i n v o l v e s t h e i n s e r t i o n o f a t h i n t u b e w i t h a c a m e r a a t t h e e n d i n t o y o u r b o t t o m .
"

Closing the consultation

Summarise the key points back to the patient.
Ask the patient if they have any questions or concerns that have not been addressed.
O
can use to gather more information (e.g. NHS.uk).
Thank the patient for their time.
Dispose of PPE appropriately and wash your hands.

References

1. National Health Service (NHS). Bowel Cancer Screening. Available from\: [LINK].
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Source\: geekymedics.com
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