General tests for bowel cancer

Learn more about these general tests:

• Physical examination
• Blood test
• Immunochemical faecal occult blood test (iFOBT)

Physical examination

Your doctor will ask to feel your abdomen for any swelling. To check for problems in the rectum and anus, they may also do an internal examination. This involves the doctor putting a gloved, lubricated finger into the anus to feel for any lumps or swelling. This is called a digital rectal examination (DRE).

The DRE may be uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t be painful. Because the anus is a muscle, it can help to try to relax during the examination. The pressure on the rectum might make you feel like you are going to have a bowel movement, but it is very unlikely that this will happen.

Blood test

You may have a blood test to check your general health and to look for signs that you are losing blood in your faeces (stools or poo).

The blood test may measure chemicals that are found or made in your liver, and check your red blood cell count (haemoglobin level). Low red blood cell levels (anaemia) are common in people with bowel cancer, but may also be caused by other conditions.

Immunochemical faecal occult blood test (iFOBT)

Depending on your symptoms, you may have an iFOBT. This test looks for tiny amounts of blood in your faeces.

An iFOBT is generally not recommended for people who are bleeding from the rectum or have bowel symptoms (change in bowel habit, anaemia, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain) as these people are usually referred for a colonoscopy straightaway.

The iFOBT involves taking a sample of your faeces at home. The sample is sent to a laboratory and examined for microscopic traces of blood, which may be a sign of polyps, cancer or another bowel condition. If the test finds blood in your faeces, your doctor will recommend you have a colonoscopy as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after getting the result.