Hi

Sorry to read your post, a massive worry as we all imagine the very worst in these situations and we shouldn't but we do google and then we are convinced it's bad.

Firstly you shouldn't have to go private with this, if cancer is a slight chance, you should be referred under the 2 week appointment rule. 

I have had bowel cancer... twice. Yes I had trouble with iron but both times my poo test came back negative.

My stepdad has just been through similar and it turned out to be diverculitus.

A colonoscopy will give the answer.

I hope you get sorted soon and get good news.

Anyone who has been unlucky enough to have had cancer or a scare can relate to the massive massive worry you are going through at the moment.

Thanks so much for responding. I also wondered if the referral could be done via the NHS with not too long to wait but I asked my doctor and he said that it could take 4-6 weeks or longer. I didn't want to have to wait that long as the uncertainty and worry really bad. We are in Scotland so I'm not sure how long it would have taken so I decided to go private. I got the appointment in the post today so I see the consultant surgeon at the private hospital on Monday 3rd Feb but I will ring them on Monday and ask if there is any chance of a cancellation before then. I expect that will only be an initial appointment and then I would have to go back in for colonoscopy on another date. My iron has been low for several months and despite taking 3 tablets (FF) since start of October, my iron level hasn't increased as high as my doctor wanted it to. I think at this point I wouod have liked to have been referred to find out why the iron was low. My doctor contacted Haemotology for advice and they told him they are not overly concerned and to cut me down to one iron tablet per day. If I hadn't ordered the FIT test online, I wouldn't have known that it had a positive result as I'm not 50 until March and I won't get bowel screening until after 50. I am so worried. The result came back from the FIT as 25 and the lady who called me with the result said that means there has def been blood found . 

Thanks so much for responding. I also wondered if the referral could be done via the NHS with not too long to wait but I asked my doctor and he said that it could take 4-6 weeks or longer. I didn't want to have to wait that long as the uncertainty and worry really bad. We are in Scotland so I'm not sure how long it would have taken so I decided to go private. I got the appointment in the post today so I see the consultant surgeon at the private hospital on Monday 3rd Feb but I will ring them on Monday and ask if there is any chance of a cancellation before then. I expect that will only be an initial appointment and then I would have to go back in for colonoscopy on another date. My iron has been low for several months and despite taking 3 tablets (FF) since start of October, my iron level hasn't increased as high as my doctor wanted it to. I think at this point I wouod have liked to have been referred to find out why the iron was low. My doctor contacted Haemotology for advice and they told him they are not overly concerned and to cut me down to one iron tablet per day. If I hadn't ordered the FIT test online, I wouldn't have known that it had a positive result as I'm not 50 until March and I won't get bowel screening until after 50. I am so worried. The result came back from the FIT as 25 and the lady who called me with the result said that means there has def been blood found . 

Does anyone know what 25 means in the result of a FIT test? I know they told me that it was positive and normal is 1-10 but I'm wondering how serious 25 is. 

The second poo sample I sent in had visible blood in, still came back negative for some reason.

I have found that listening to what your body is telling you and keep pestering if you aren't happy with what the GP says goes a long way.

Have you any other symptoms?

I haven't had any symptoms. My iron level is very low and my stool is black but I read that's normal with the iron tablets. I can't physically see any blood but I ordered the FIT test online myself and it came back positive at 25. Someone told me that low iron can be a red flag - it was worrying when the level didn't rise by very much after being on the tablets for almost three months. 

Yes iron tablets make it black.

Try and focus on the positives, you don't have any of the other bowel cancer symptoms.

Although some people don't or only have one or two.

My first time I had bad indegestion every day and high abdominal pain.

Second time apart from no weight loss I had every other symptom.

Thanks so much for your post. Can you tell me what the other symptoms are please. Is the low iron a symptom? I'm wondering if the positive result on the FIT test could be something not too serious. 

Is lower back pain a symptom? 

No as far as I know, lower back pain isn't a symptom.

Anaemia can be a symptom but also a symptom of other things too.

Weight loss, change in bowel habits, blood loss, abdominal pain, bloated are the main ones but some of these can also be symptoms of less serious conditions too.

Does low iron (anemia levels) definitely linked to cancer, a red flag? My level has been very low for several months - why would my doctor not have referred me by now if my level did not increase with the iron tablets? 

I think the fact that some cancers cause bleeding is why they check for iron levels but in your case where you don't have typical bowel cancer symptoms, they will probably just want to rule it out and find an answer to your iron problem.

I have a friend who is total opposite, she has been referred to haemotology with really high iron levels.

I know the not knowing either way is a nightmare but the fact that haemotology didn't send you for endoscopy/colonoscopy is a good sign as they did this with me.

Thank you, that's right - when my own doctor asked them for advice they said that I should cut the iron tablets down to one a day and I should get my blood taken again end of February to see how it is. If I hadn't ordered the FIT test I wouldn't have been referred so I'm glad I did but the worry is making me ill, I feel worse now than before I did the FIT test.