Cancer Research UK main site

Have I got Colon cancer

a07
Offline

For two weeks had pains when passing stools which were small and often but pain went after passing stools. Eventually took some castor oil to clear myself out and bowels now seem ok. Booked an appointment with GP just to check and she ordered a FIT test which came back positive 15. Have always suffered from hard stools and hemmerrhoids but now convinced have cancer as GP has put me on 2 we fast track for Colonoscopy. I am 67.Anybody else had these symptoms and if so what was the outcome.

  • Offline

    None of us can tell for sure if you have cancer or not, but you probably don't. The FIT test just tests for blood in the stool and with hard stools and hemorrhoids, it is pretty likely it would come back positive as either of those can cause bleeding. And 15 indicates only a slight amount of blood which is probably more consistent with hard stools or hemorrhoids than with cancer (cancer COULD cause slight bleeding, but so could hemorrhoids and hard stools and given that you know you have two of those, the odds are against it being the far less common one).

    Lots of things can cause a raised FIT test. Statistically about 1 in 10 are cancer and that is including people who get results like 900 and who have no other conditions that could cause the bleeding. In your case, there is even more reason to assume you are in the 90% where it is something like hard stools or hemorrhoids or a fissure or an infection or Crohn's or ulcerative colitis or divirticulitis or a polyp...

    Referring you for a colonoscopy doesn't mean the GP thinks you have cancer or even think there is a significant chance of cancer. It just means there is blood in your stool which can be caused by many things and they want to find out which is causing it. The fact that cancer is one of the many possibilities means it's a two-week pathway because obviously in those cases, they want to treat as quickly as possible.

  • Offline

    Hi I had a fit test because of various symptoms and mine was 15 also which is very low considering it can go up into the high hundreds so try not to worry too much ,I was put on the 2ww and had a colonoscopy which turned out to be nothing serious ,they found I had Diverticulitis a polyp and Fibroid and then referred me back to my GP ,but it is best to have it checked as a precaution .

  • Offline in reply to MargaretMary

    I have no faith in these FIT tests.

    I suppose no test is definitive but at least the previous screening tool gave the public the option of three samples to help collate information.

    My late Father’s fit test was apparently normal the October before he died from bowel cancer!

    My own fit test results were over 400 which triggered investigations. Was told it was likely a false positive. I find these conflicting conversations really confusing.

    Do what feels right for you.

    Ask lots of questions and never leave a consultation till you have all the information you need to help process.

    Good luck x

  • Offline

    Hi 

    been for colonoscopy today and everything ok except for hemmerhoids and diverticulitis .procedure was fine just the prep that’s pretty awful so worried for nothing.

  • Offline in reply to a07

    That's great news well done I know what you mean about the prep you'd think by now they'd have a better method but you must be so relieved I know I was when I got told my results ,so you can forget about it now onwards and upwards .

  • Offline in reply to a07

    Really glad to hear you got (mostly) good news. 

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.