A FIT is a colon cancer screening done entirely at home: collect a small stool sample with the kit, mail it to the lab, and the lab checks for hidden blood.
No diet or medication restrictions beforehand. At average risk it starts at 45 and repeats yearly - the protection comes from the schedule. A positive means blood was found and a colonoscopy follows; it is not a cancer diagnosis.
What to do
Common questions
What is a FIT test for colon cancer?
A FIT - fecal immunochemical test - is a colon cancer screening you do entirely at home: the kit gives you a way to collect a small stool sample, you seal and mail it to the lab, and the lab checks for hidden blood in the stool that can signal polyps or cancer. It beats the older guaiac test because it needs no diet or medication restrictions beforehand. For people at average risk, screening starts at 45, and FIT is a yearly test - the protection comes from repeating it on schedule, not from doing it once. Two things matter most about the result. A negative is reassuring for that year, not a lifetime pass - the annual repeat is the plan. A positive is not a cancer diagnosis: it means blood was detected, and the follow-up colonoscopy finds out why, since hemorrhoids and other benign causes bleed too. MedlinePlus walks through the collection steps, which are simpler than the anxiety suggests. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you decide between FIT and other screening routes.