Warning signs for intestinal cancer

* Loss of Weight * Loss of appetite * Rectal Bleeding * Change in Bowel Habits * Painful defecation * Blood mixed with stools * Alternating diarrhea with constipation * Chronic diarrhea

Screening for Intestinal Cancer

This screening involves a test to find any polyps or to find cancer early when they are easier to treat and cure. Intestinal cancer can develop without any early warning signs. The cancer can grow for several years before manifesting clinically. Often very small amount of blood leak from these tumours and pass into the stools before any symptoms are noticed. A bowel cancer screening test called a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) can detect these small amounts of blood in the stools. The FOBT is a simple bowel cancer screening test that one do at home. It involves placing small samples of stool on special cards and sending them to a pathology laboratory for analysis. The FOBT result is negative if no blood is found in the stools. Sometimes three samples are required. The FOBT result is positive if blood is present in the sample of stool. If blood is detected, you should contact your doctor immediately. div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">