What are the risks of the FOBT?
• FOBT alone has little risk or harm. • A positive result leads to tests such as colonoscopy that have more risk. • The FOBT is not perfect: • It may say there is blood when there really is none and this may results in unnecessary further testing. • It may miss blood in a sample and possibly miss a diagnosis of polyps or cancer. • Some polyps and colorectal cancers do not bleed. Therefore, FOBT will not detect all polyps or cancer.
