Home / Health / Normal FIT Test Hides Stage 3 Colon Cancer
Normal FIT Test Hides Stage 3 Colon Cancer
13 Nov
Summary
- Woman received normal at-home screening test results.
- Diagnosis of stage 3 colon cancer occurred one year later.
- She now advocates for proactive health and early detection.
A woman from Dashwood, Ontario, is recounting her experience with stage 3 colon cancer, diagnosed despite a normal at-home screening test result approximately one year prior. Darlene O'Rourke, 53, initially dismissed her symptoms as perimenopause.
Her Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), intended for asymptomatic individuals, yielded a normal result in February 2024. However, by December 2024, O'Rourke received a diagnosis of advanced stage 3 colon cancer, necessitating emergency surgery including an ileostomy.
Ontario Health's ColonCancerCheck program utilizes FIT for average-risk individuals, but a normal result only indicates blood wasn't detected above the threshold in that specific sample, not a cancer-free status. O'Rourke underwent further surgery and is now sharing her journey on social media.
She hopes her openness will prompt others to listen to their bodies, ask questions, and advocate for their health. O'Rourke has also fundraised for cancer support organizations.
