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Positive FIT but negative calprotectin

Sazza1234
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Hi , 

just wondering if anyone can help calm my horrendous anxiety a little. 
so I’m 6 months postpartum and when my baby was 13 weeks I had appendicitis and had them removed. Lately I’ve been having looser stools on and off … blood tests show ferritin is slightly low but haemoglobin is normal. Did a FIT test and result came back positive but only at 16? Other stool sample for calprotectin was negative. Been referred for colonoscopy in ten days time. I am just so worried and upset, especially with my stool sample for IBD been negative. 
I have had some itching too and doctor is going to check for possible haemorrhoids tomororow.. so much conflicting evidence if these can actually cause a positive FIT or not though ?. 
any advice would be appreciated x

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    Hi Sazza1234, 

    I am sorry to hear you are going through such an anxious time at the moment and that your FIT test came back positive and you have been referred for a colonoscopy. As you can see on our page on the FIT test , there are many reasons why a FIT test can be positive but it's good that you have been referred to have a colonoscopy so that you can find out more and hopefully get some answers. Have you seen the doctor since to check for possible haemorrhoids which might explain the itching you are experiencing? 

    I wanted to wish you the best of luck for your colonoscopy. I hope that it all goes well for you and that you get a diagnosis soon and fingers crossed that you have complete peace of mind. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator 

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    16 is really only barely positive. Lots of things could cause your symptoms and cancer is probably one of hte less likely explanations.

    A few years ago I had rectal bleeding ongoing for a number of months, had lost a small amount of weight, had loose stools maybe once a week and trapped wind and the specialist said that at my age (I was 40), the odds of cancer were "less than 1%" and I would be "the unluckiest person in the world" if that turned out to be the explanation. Turned out to be hemorrhoids, probably combined with the effects of my thyroid medication and possibly the stress of the whole thing.

  • Offline in reply to MargaretMary

    Hi Margaret, Thankyou so much for your kind reply. My stress levels are through the roof. Just want it over and done with so I know what’s going on.

    i thought my fit result seemed quite low compared to what they can be sometimes. 
    I appreciate you sharing your personal experience with me. It has helped me knowing that. I was at the doctors Friday and I do have some haemorrhoids so hopefully that’s the explanation. Praying it is! 
    i think the only doubt about that is that a few people on sites have said that occult blood picked up on a test can’t usually be from haemorrhoids as that’s fresh blood ? X

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