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Positive FIT test and low iron

Millie123fairy
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Hi   I am a 46 year old female who has suffered withconstipation, bloating and abdonimal pain for many years   I went to my doctorsa few months ago as my stomach was really bloating and uncomofrtable (only relieved by passing wind or going to the toilet)  She done bloods which were all fine apart from iron levels which were low and i started on iron tablets.   I also changed my diet and increased by fibre by eating more aprocts and nuts and drinking more   Sympyoms started to get much better.  Doctor then ordered me a bowel screening test to  which i did and i was today told that my results were abnormally high and i was being referred for a colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  She did say she was concerned at bowel cancer especially as i have low iron (i have had low iron during all my pregnancies as well so not new to me).   I am really scared it is bowel cancer.   Ive never seen any blood in my stools and no weight loss.  No persistent abdominal pain either and going to the loo regular with change of diet.   The doctor who phoned me was very cold and made me worry more.   Im going to speak to my usual doctor on Monday to find out more.  Any advice? 

 

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    Hi sorry to hear about your symptoms. Being told you might have cancer is worrying.

    I have read that about 10% of people who are referred this way actually end up having cancer.

    I also had an abnormally high FIT test result but I didn't have low iron levels so can't help you there. The FIT test looks for blood in poo so must mean there's hidden blood. For me, I could see lots of blood so I wasn't surprised. The blood can be caused by so many things so doesn't always mean it's cancer.

    It is really good you've been referred on a 2 week wait. I hope they find what's causing your symptoms and that it can get treated.

    I was referred in April and was told it could take up to 25 weeks. I kept my GP updated and she recently moved me on the 2ww so I'm so relieved now because I was so scared that things were just going to keep getting worse.

    I hope your colonoscopy goes well and that everything turns out okay for us xx

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    Also I just read that the doctor who phoned you was cold and made you worry more. I'm sorry to hear that, does your usual doctor talk more empathetically?

    I know that if they refer you on the 2ww, they have to say it could be cancer but they shouldn't make you worry more.

    I've lost weight recently and become incontinent and I told my doctor that I'm really scared and she said 'you are young so I hope it's not anything serious.. like cancer'. I even found that alarming but she then told me about the 2ww and I was so relieved. 

    If she had said it in a cold way, I'd definitely be worrying more. I hope you can try to relax while you wait and remember that other things could be causing the bleeding. Even if it is bowel cancer (which I hope it's not), it's good you've been referred so you can find out early and have better chance of treatment.

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    Hi Millie123fairy,

    I know this post is a little while ago, I just wondered how you got on?? 

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