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Positive FIT Test

niam
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Hi all,

I know diagnosis can only come from a medical professional but I am truly terrified of having bowel/colon cancer. I have had intermittent blood in my stool for a while but put it down to piles. The blood has always been bright red so fresh. Last week I had difficulty passing stools followed by what can only be described as very watery diarreah. I knew it wasn't right so contacted the doctor. To be fair, having read through other stories, I think I'm quite lucky because she immediately ordered a FIT test which I returned same day.

Today I receive a called from the doctor informing me my fit test was positive (17 - I don't understand the numbers) and they were doing an urgent 2 week referral. I then got a called from the hospital and have a telephone appointment with a nurse tomorrow morning to discuss what is next - I believe that will be a colonoscopy. 
 

my concern is that for the last week I've had low grade fever pretty much every day, mostly in the evening. My appetite has left the building so I have lost 8lbs in the last week (I'm overweight!). 

I had a similar episode in July last year but it was as I was admitted to hospital for Covid so I figured it was a symptom of covid but now am worried that I've had symptoms for nearly a whole year and haven't done anything about it.

Does anyone know how the numbers work with a fit test. The doctor today didn't really say much other than he's sending an urgent cancer referral which has given me anxiety beyond anything I've experienced before. 

I'm 42, don't know family history as maternal side we've never known. Paternal side there's no known history of cancer. 

Do the fit result numbers inicate how serious whatever it is could be? I'm so frightened I have cancer. I have two kids, one is in the middle of her GCSEs and I really can't think straight at the moment. 

if it helps anyone. My symptoms:

change in bowel habit - currently go to the toilet every morning - mostly loose stool but only one occurance of the watery stool following constipation the day before

some mucous when I wipe

low grade fever (mainly in the evening) 

recently picked up a cold/flu from my daughter (2 weeks ago so perhaps lower immune system) 

loss of appetite (eating less) 

weight loss

fatigue 

blood in stool (the stool sample I provided had no visible blood and was quite liquid like)
 

  • Offline in reply to niam

    Thanks for the reply , that's brilliant news.

    Glad everything went ok. 
    I've got my on the 12th feb..

     

    I will let you know, how it goes !

     

    Trev

  • Offline in reply to niam

    Morning N,

    I've IBS for well over 20 years, I just hope it's something to do with. 
     

    just hope number 17 is my lucky number. 
    Are you still getting problems?

     

    T

  • Offline in reply to Trevor49

    Hi Trevor,

    I do still have issues but I think I don't stress about it as much so the symptoms are not as bad. 

    if you have IBS, the likelihood is that it is a symptom of the IBS. The fit test looks for blood in the stool so if you were having a flare up of some sort then that's probably what the test has picked up. 

    17 is quite a low number. I remember trawling through this forum looking for people with similar numbers but couldn't really find any. 

    with hindsight it's easy for me to say not to worry, but I completely understand how stressful and anxiety provoking the wait can be. I used to take notes of my symptoms every day. It did help a little. 

    just over a week to go for you. I will be praying for you. I'm here if you have any questions or just want to chat. 

    N 

  • Offline in reply to niam

    Morning N

     

    I really appreciate it. Thank you.

    Yes, that's what the doctor said. Also all my bloods came back ok.

    chat soon.

     

    T

  • Offline in reply to shopoholic15

    Exact same story as you. My diagnosis was inflammatory bowel disease. So hard to get my head around it all

  • Offline in reply to Trevor49

    Evening T,

    the bloods sound good. I was definitely worried about those. Honestly the waiting is the worst. Will you have someone go to your appointment with you? I don't think they are allowed in with you but just the moral support would be good. 

    In the end I went on my own but after it was all over I wish I had taken someone with me. 

     

  • Offline in reply to niam

    Morning N

    My wife will probably just drop me off...

    My stomach been so much better the last 2 weeks..

    I thought it would be bad, because all the stress etc.

     

    chat soon T

  • Offline in reply to niam

    Hi N,

    just had it done , just gas and air...

    All healthy and doctors said IBS...they took some biopsies , but doctor said he doesn't think anything will come back.. didn't find any abnormalities.

    N , thanks for your help.

    If I can help anyone else who's in the same situation as me. Please message me.

    Much love 

    Trevor 

  • Offline in reply to Trevor49

    Hi Trevor,

     

    I am so glad it all went well - well done with the gas and air. The procedure is not that bad is it. 
     

    The biopsy is standard procedure and I hope that you feel a bit better now having had it all done. Easy to say, but you must try and keep the stress levels down to reduce the IBS flair ups. 
     

    All the best T! 
     

    Best wishes 

    N x

  • Offline in reply to Trevor49

    Hi there 

     

    I'm at a point where a scan has come back borderline and fit test is positive but reception says just to book an appointment in with doctor in two weeks!! I'm finding it hard to wait that long to be honest it didn't say urgent but says soon so not sure why doctor not called me 

    had bloods today  too ? 
    I'm just worried to be honest 

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