To follow on, I’ve noticed yesterday and today I’ve had mucus/blood in stool too. 

Cancer is pretty unlikely, though you should get it checked out. A FIT test of 4 means there was no blood in your stool when you tested and a negative FIT means colon cancer is pretty unlikely, so that is a really good sign. But since you did have bleeding later on, it is good that you are getting it checked out.

When I was 40, I had rectal bleeding most days for about two months, unexplained weight loss, occasional loose stools (maybe once a week) and trapped wind. The consultant said that at my age, the odds of cancer were "less than 1%" and I would be "the most unlucky person in the world" if that turned out to be the explanation. (It turned out to be hemorrhoids, probably combined with the effects of my thyroid medication and probably the stress of the whole thing).

Something like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's would be more likely, though still probably less likely than IBS or something else minor.

I've also read that colon cancer tends to be pretty slow acting so even if you DID have a precancerous polyp or something, you probably wouldn't have left it too long.

Hi, I’m sorry you’re going through this. My dad has been recently diagnosed with bowel cancer and his symptoms included change in bowel habits/movements, blood and mucous. He had a colonoscopy 2 years ago which showed diverticular disease and polyps (which were removed) but no cancer present. They put the bleeding down to the diverticular disease. He had multiple appointments with the GP after this as the bleeding didn’t stop, again, they told him it was nothing. Fast forward to February this year he had a large rectal bleed which resulted in being taken to A&E. He had another colonoscopy which confirmed he has stage 3 cancer (this was confirmed on the day). 

My point is to push your GP to refer you for a colonoscopy or go privately for one if you can. It could be nothing but always better to be safe than sorry. I hope you get the answers you’re looking for!

Thank you so much for your reply! I saw my Consultant who was great. He said he didn’t think it was anything sinister and said it could possibly be hemorrhoids so suggested that I go for a sigmoidoscopy which I should get through in a few days so I’m pleased I’m having something! He didn’t suggest having another FIT test, but I did show him a picture (probably TMI!) and he didn’t seem at all concerned. So that’s out my mind at ease a bit. 

Oh I’m so sorry about your dad. What a thing to go through. Yes I saw the consultant today and he suggested having a sigmoidoscopy which I’m pleased about. I will definitely push further if I feel I need further investigation! 

That's fantastic. I really hope the sigmoidoscopy confirms that it's nothing too serious.

Thats what made me go to the doctors and eventually find out  i had colon cancer it was my only symptom , but your fit score seems ok mine was 168 

Hi Gordgrc, what were your symptoms? I went private and saw a consultant last Wednesday but still haven’t heard anything. I feel this is getting worse so going to ring up my GP in the morning and maybe they’ll refer me for a colonoscopy. I know it’s not a nice procedure but would feel better if I had everything checked rather than just the sigmoidoscopy. 

The only symptom i had was a small bit of mucus and small bit of blood, felt great no other symptoms it would have been so easy to put it off and wait and see , get a colonoscopy ASP like i said i had no symptoms and still never up until the time i had the operation, i had a 5 cm tumour which was found with the colonoscopy, they gave me a CT scan then 7 days later they removed it , i had 22 lymph nodes removed and two were found to be going cancerous so i will be having 3 months of chemo, i am five weeks from my operation now and slowly picking up my energy, get it sorted ASP as it will definitely get worse, but it might not be colon cancer, let’s hope so 

Hey Gordgrc, I’m really sorry to hear about this and hope your operation went well. 

I’m sorry for jumping on this but this sounds very similar to my dads case apart from they have also found an enlarged node on his pelvic wall, it has also spread to the lymph nodes that are close to his tumour.

I hope you don’t mind me asking and stop me if I’m asking too much. I was wondering if you went private for your treatment as my dad was diagnosed early February and still hasn’t started any treatment or had his operation even though they have said it’s stage 3 and moderately aggressive.