FIT test 125

Hello, 

I am 40 (just) and had a very uncomfortable December. Frequently going to the loo (3 times a day) and passing a lot of blood, but not visible in the stool . I have suffered historically from haemorrhoids that are grade 2 . I am due a colonoscopy in late January after a positive FIT test (125). Everything I look at online, suggests that its colorectal cancer or bowel. I feel fit and well and the tummy pains have subsided significantly with the introduction of periodic use of buscopan. Loo frequency is still x3, but no visible blood and of a decent appearance. Know weight loss, but I feel I have a lot of trapped wind, which my family really appreciates me expelling :)

Any advice or reassurance welcomed. 

Thanks, 

  • It's relatively unlikely to be bowel cancer. A positive FIT is supposed to give a 10% chance of bowel cancer, but age makes a big difference and a high proportion of those with positive FITs will be older, so your odds are probably lower. Add in the fact that you have historically suffered from haemorrhoids, so that already gives you an explanation for the blood/positive FIT and I'd say the odds are lower again.

    At 40, I had rectal bleeding, weight loss, trapped wind and some loose stools (maybe once a week; I regularly use the loo 3-6 times a day, so that was normal) and the consultant said at my age, I would be "the unluckiest person in the world" if it turned out to be bowel cancer and that the odds were "less than 1%." I know your symptoms are somewhat different but I still think the odd are strongly against it's being cancer.

    Of course, even a slight chance of cancer is worrying and you won't know for sure until you get the colonoscopy, but it is probably far more likely to be hemorrhoids or ulcerative colitis or Crohn's or a polyp or a whole load of other things. In my case, it turned out to be hemorrhoids, probably combined with the effects of my thyroid medication and possibly the stress of the whole thing!

  • I'm in the same boat. On and off symptoms since the summer, I noticed some blood in a stool and then started to get cramps and trapped wind. I've always had mad irregular bowel habits so I didn't really notice a change then though I did think  I was going more urgently. 

    In early December I had another stool where blood was more visible. I haven't had anything visible since. 

    But since Christmas I've had really uncomfortable and persitant bloating, cramps, pains, more urgent bowel movements, different shaped poop and uncomfortable wind. 

    All blood tests, I've done a few sets have been normal. My calproctin test was 145 so borderline which I've just repeated and awaiting results,  I did two home FOBC tests which were positive, urine tests which are normal, ultra sound which was normal and a chest x ray which was normal. 

    I'm booked in for a colonoscopy and endoscopy next Tuesday and have my preparations this weekend and Monday. 

    I'm almost convinced I have bowel cancer. I can't see what else it could be and I just keep feeling so depressed by it and scared for my two little children. 

    I'm only 37 but  I think age doesn't mean it's not likely just less likely than someone over 50. My children are 7 and 3 and I have the best relationship with them. I'm so scared I have a life sentence. 

    I've had bowel issues for years and now I'm scared that it's been  more than IBS.

    I have been all over Google despite what anyone has advised and no doubt I have fuelled my anxiety and stress which has  made it all worse but I can't help it. 

    Literally petrified. My parents died when I was young and I'm divorcing my partner and this is just the hardest thing to go through when you're so alone :( 

    Mark   

  • Hey, did you have your colonoscopy? Im in the same boat. Im 37 and my result came back at 105 so i was referred on Thursday. Im absolutely terrified x

  • Colonoscopy went ‘well’ not great fun to be honest. It was all clear and no signs of anything untoward. Likely to have been a polyp that detached or my grade two piles that caused the blood in stool 

  • Great news, this is very reassuring x

  • Hey, yes i had mine and was all fine, two polyps taken,  histology  said totally fine no concerns. Sadly still riddled with  symptoms sadly ! But  it doesn't seem to be colon cancer. 

  • I spotted mucus with blood in my stools i went to the doctor who examined me and ordered a FIT test it came back 168 and abnormal, i saw a consultant and he sent me for a colonoscopy which i had a couple of days ago , they told me it was definitely cancer and was 5cm large i am now waiting for a CT scan , he said depending on what the scan showed they would either give me chemotherapy then an operation if CT scan comes back ok then it would go straight to an operation, i don’t have any real symptoms so far other than a feeling on my lower left hand side , to be honest if it hadn’t been for the fact i saw mucus and streaks of blood i probably wouldn’t have gone to the doctors and would have been totally unaware of it , now i know i seem to be picking up on every little thing , i still feel fit i don’t feel run down and tired so far i have lost some weight but that was probably because of the fasting etc with the colonoscopy, thats my experience so far in this scary journey I find reading other peoples posts helps me not feel alone 

  • I had my telephone appointment yesterday, im awaiting my colonoscopy appointment to come through. Im sorry to hear about your results but ill keep my fingers crossed for you for the scan bringing so positive news .

  • Thank you Leanne I definitely have cancer i have been told just waiting for a CT scan and then there course of action, i hope your colonoscopy goes well and is positive for you , cancer is very scary 

  • Thank you so much. It really is scary. Keep us updated i will pray for you