Can someone tell me please what fit reading of 28 is and does this mean cancer ? I am having a colonoscopy and I'm very worried. Someone told me that high fit test can definitely mean cancer.
Hi, my name js Paul, a 63 Yr old male who had a "positive" fit reading. All this means is that they have found a trace of blood in your stool, and needs further investigation. It does not mean you have cancer. In my case it was, in a neighbour of mine it was internal haemorrhoids, could be several things. The only thing routinely diagnoses cancer is a biopsy, assessed by a pathologist. Once your sample has found traces of blood, they usually do a colonoscopy for a visual inspection unless you cannot or don't want one then they would consider MRI, or/ and CT scan. Speak to doctor or colorectal nurse on your correspondence, too many armchair experts. Hope this helps.
Hi Paul thanks for this information I really appreciate it , had a telephone call yesterday from the colonoscopy department and the lady said that I can have the tablet camera colonoscopy where you swallow a camera and it takes thousands of pictures and it takes 8 hours to get through your system she said I qualify for that it's a new thing apparently. the thing about the high fit test score is that I was told 28 is very high and can indicate a malignancy or bleeding polyps. But then I read of some people having a score of 400 and being told they are ok .
Hope all goes well, again it's only a sign of blood. The camera will/may show images for a more accurate assessment. I found the surgeon and the colonoscopy could manipulate to where he wanted to go, record whatever he wanted, and more Importantly remove small polyps there and then ( I had 2 removed instantly 2 and 4 mm respectively). Also they can take a biopsy with the same tool, again at same time, on any polyps which are too big to remove with the snare. That was my case. It suited me, I saw the tumour on the screen as he was recording, so no shock when the biopsy came back malignant. Guess I'm just impatient, but also don't like to be kept in the dark or condition played down to save my feelings getting hurt. Anyway, hope all goes well.
My tumour was surgically removed, no chemo or radiotherapy given. I have a temporary ileostomy bag fitted which gives the wound time to heal, then later remove the bag and business as usual so as to speak. My tumour had grown significantly from biopsy to removal (42 days ), and more tissue was taken out than expected. Surrounding samples were taken , checked , and found to be free of active cancer cells. That is not an all clear, it is the first of several tests over the next few years. I get ups and downs, lost 3.5 stone in weight, but my outlook on life has changed dramatically. This may sound odd but I feel as though this has changed me for the better, not the best thing that has happened to me, but I'm more content than I've ever been.
28 is not very high. It is considered "high" in the sense that anything over 10 means there is blood in the stool, but it's really not that much over it.
Anything over 10 means they test for cancer, but lots and lots of things can cause blood in the stool - hemorrhoids, a polyp, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's, a fissure, diverticulitis, an infection, etc. I think about 10% of cases turn out to be cancer? Maybe less. And I suspect with a score on the lower side of positive, your risk of cancer would be lower than that.
Thank you Margaret I really appreciate that advice and it has helped me to understand better my fit score , I have been very anxious about this . the colonoscopy nurse that rang me said a very similar thing and also said that the scores can be much,much,higher some people can get 400 and when they go for colonoscopy it has turned out to be polyps or something far much less sinister then the worse case scenario. Thanks again Margaret much appreciated.
