You have taken part in the bowel cancer screening programme and have submitted a stool sample (faeces or ‘poop’) for testing. The results show that your sample contains traces of blood. There are a number of possible reasons for this. It could be a sign of bowel cancer, but it may also be due to benign polyps, haemorrhoids (piles) or other causes. As yet, we don’t know. Further investigation is needed. This leaflet provides information about what happens next. Whether you wish to have the follow-up tests is entirely your own decision.