Screening is done by checking for colorectal cancer in groups of people who don’t show any symptoms of the disease. A screening test can help find colorectal cancer before any symptoms develop. If colorectal cancer is found and treated early, early diagnosis through screening can improve the chances of successful treatment.

You may have had a screening (stool) test to help find colorectal cancer if you  you are between the ages of 50 to 74 years old and not at high risk for colorectal cancer.If your stool test shows traces of blood in your stool, your doctor will send you for an endoscopy test to find out where the bleeding is coming from and why.

If the tests show something abnormal, tissue samples for further testing (a biopsy) may be taken during a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.

To learn more about screening for colorectal cancer please click here.