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just notified of fast track referral for colonoscopy, message is "Urgent Suspected Cancer - Lower GI (Colo or Anal) RAS"

Dubya
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Hi,

following taking a FIT test I was contacted by GP last night and hospital today regarding "Urgent Suspected Cancer - Lower GI (Colo or Anal) RAS"

i know i need to have the colonoscopy first and am being fast tracked for that so should be within two weeks but am understandably concerned and anxious. lots of blood in my poo for more than one month with blood globules triggered GP getting me to take a FIT test but the reading from results I understand they are concerned about and hence the fast track referral is a quantitative faecal immunochemical test reading of 374 ug/g which is above the low / high reference limit of [0.0 - 9.0]

can you please help me to understand this test result and what a reading of 374 ug/g could mean?

thanks,

DG

  • Hi DG, and thank you for posting.

    I am sorry to learn that you are having symptoms that are causing you concern. Having tests and waiting for the results can be stressful and anxious.

    The FIT (faecal immunochemical test) is looking for hidden blood in the poo. When your poo sample is sent to the lab to be tested it is given a number anything below 10 is negative (no blood as been found) anything above 10 up to 400 is positive (blood has been found).

    Having a high FIT does not mean it is more likely to be cancer; anyone with a FIT above 10 will be referred to the hospital on the suspected cancer pathway. Regardless of the amount, the main thing is that blood has been found, and tests such as a colonoscopy will be done to find out the cause of the blood.

    Although sometimes this might be caused by cancer, there could be other reasons for the bleeding, such as a polyp or haemorrhoids (piles). It is worth knowing that most people who are referred on the suspected cancer pathway do not have cancer. However, if cancer is found, it means they can treat it early.

    I hope this helps a little. If you would like to speak with one of our nurses, we are available between 9am and 5pm, and the freephone number to call is 0808 800 4040

    Take care,

    Jemma

  • Offline in reply to CRUK Nurse Jemma

    Thanks so much for this information and support Jemma, it is very much appreciated and really helpful. hopefully the test results will allay my concerns but will definitely call if I need more information following.

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