Do you know all Australians aged 45-74 are eligible for a free FOBT?
*
Do you know all Australians aged 45-74 are eligible for a free FOBT? *
Have you received a positive Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) result?
Start your patient journey with confidence, and let us walk you through the next steps following your positive FOBT result
What should I do now? What is a positive FOBT? Where do I find more information?
What should I do now? What is a positive FOBT? Where do I find more information?
Patient Care Pathway
-
1. Positive Test Result?
A positive FOBT is quite common, however if testing shows there was some blood present in your stool sample, this needs to be investigated further.
-
2. Get a referral to see a Gastroenterologist
You need a referral to a Gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy.
-
3. Have a Colonoscopy
A simple procedure done by a Gastroenterologist to see inside your colon to investigate the cause of the blood in your stool.
-
4. Receive Your Results
A follow up appointment with your Gastroenterologist to discuss their findings at the Colonoscopy and talk about the next steps for your care.
-
5. Ongoing Surveillance
If you’ve had a positive FOBT you’ll need a plan to check on your colon regularly in the future.
-
6. Patient Resources
Find out more information about FOBT and Colonoscopy process from Government websites and resources online.
NEXT STEPS
I have a positive result, what does this mean?
You recently had a bowel cancer screening test, known as the FOBT test. This procedure involves collecting samples of your stool, which are sent for testing to check for traces of blood.
A positive result means blood was found in at least one sample. While a positive FOBT result is quite common, it’s crucial to investigate further to find the cause.
Blood in the stool can result from various issues such as polyps, haemorrhoids, anal fissures, burst blood vessels, or possibly bowel cancer. A positive FOBT does not mean you have bowel cancer, but you should have a colonoscopy to find out what is causing the bleeding to ensure your health and peace of mind.
COLONOSCOPY
What should I do now?
You need to have a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a simple procedure to investigate the underlying causes of bleeding in the bowel. A colonoscopy is performed by a Gastroenterologist as a day case in a hospital or day procedure centre. Colonoscopy should ideally be done within 30 days of receiving a Positive FOBT result.
You should get a referral to a Gastroenterologist as soon as possible.
Who can I see for my Colonoscopy?
POSiTiVE FOBT can facilitate your appointment with a Gastroenterologist in Melbourne, Gippsland and the Bass Coast. For patients located outside of these areas you should see you GP for a referral for treatment locally.
POSiTiVE FOBT can also organise your referral to a Gastroenterologist through a telehealth appointment with a Nurse Practitioner. Contact Us for more information.
