Fecal Occult Blood Test

One of the most important basic screening tools for colon cancer, this test detects hidden ("occult") blood in the stool. In a study recently published by the Journal of The National Cancer Institute, researchers found that people who had the test annually were 33% less likely to die of colon cancer, and those who took the test every other year were 21% less likely to die of the disease.

Who needs it Starting at age 50 -- or 40 if you have a family history of the disease -- you need this test annually.

How it's done Your doctor either takes a stool sample during a rectal exam or gives you a kit so you can give the sample at home. Most kits require you to collect samples from three different bowel movements.

To get the most accurate results possible, don't provide a stool sample during your menstrual period or if you have bleeding hemorrhoids. Limit alcohol consumption and avoid turnips, horseradish, beets, citrus fruits and red meat for two or three days prior to the test. Also avoid drugs, such as aspirin, that irritate the stomach.

What the results mean Blood in the stool can be caused by cancer, with and without polyps -- mushroom-shaped growths on the intestinal wall. It calls for a more intensive test such as a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy.

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