Safe to do 

No need to change your diet or take any medicine prior to the test (except for gFOBT) 

Can do the test by yourself at home (but still need to send kit to provider for results) 

Not expensive

It can help find and remove pre-cancer lesions

It can also help find cancer and some other diseases  

It is the most accurate test for detecting colon cancer 

Saves lives! 

Can miss pre-cancer lesions and some cancers  

Not always accurate—sometimes the test may be positive even if you don’t have cancer 

If the test is positive, you will need to go to the hospital and do another test called a colonoscopy  

For gFOBT: Requires pre-test diet/medication changes

Requires hospital visit and few days of preparation with special diet and medications for cleansing the intestine (may miss a day of work)

Expensive

You will be given sedation for this test so that you are comfortable during the procedure (therefore, you will need someone to drive you home because you may feel a little dizzy)

Small risk of bleeding, bowel tears, or infection