Do you need a referral for colorectal cancer screening?

Screening is intended for people who do not have symptoms and aims to find bowel changes early. A stool-based test, such as a FIT test, may be offered through a primary care pathway. If the result needs further assessment, referral to gastroenterology may be arranged. Blood in the stool, a persistent change in bowel habit, unexplained weight loss, or ongoing abdominal symptoms should be discussed as symptoms rather than treated as routine screening alone.

Contact your primary care clinic or screening provider and ask whether direct access is available. Check how the sample is collected, labelled, stored, and returned, because following the kit instructions affects whether it can be processed. Tell the clinician about family history, previous bowel problems, earlier screening, and medicines that may affect bleeding. Keep the result and follow-up instructions.

Arrange medical assessment promptly for visible blood in the stool, black stools, persistent abdominal pain, a continuing change in bowel habit, or unexplained tiredness. Seek urgent care for heavy bleeding, severe pain, fainting, or marked weakness. Do not wait for a screening kit when concerning symptoms are present.

Ask which screening test is suitable, whether you need a referral, how to complete the test, when to expect the result, and what follow-up would be arranged if it is abnormal.