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 . 

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. 

It's good you did the test, it at least gets you checked.

It's natural to worry and imagine alsorts of horrors.

I have had loads of times like this, I think being at the inbetween stage (not knowing one way or the other) is worse. Every new ache or pain with me now sends me in massive panic until I get checked and it's an amazing feeling when it turns out to be nothing and all the worry/anxiety is lifted.

Try and keep busy then you have less time to let your mind run away with itself.

Thanks for your kind words. You are 100% right, it's the not knowing that is worse. Once a problem is found then at least you know what the issue is, just like anything in life. The waiting and worrying is a sheer nightmare, the not knowing and imagining all sorts. Thank you so much. I am going to contact the hospital tomorrow to ask if there is anyway I can be considered for a cancellation before my appointment on 3rd February. 

Thanks for your kind words. You are 100% right, it's the not knowing that is worse. Once a problem is found then at least you know what the issue is, just like anything in life. The waiting and worrying is a sheer nightmare, the not knowing and imagining all sorts. Thank you so much. I am going to contact the hospital tomorrow to ask if there is anyway I can be considered for a cancellation before my appointment on 3rd February. 

I found that my first diagnosis was complete shock, I expected anything but cancer. I was diagnosed 3 days before christmas and 15 days later I had the surgery so before it had sunk in what I had, it was gone and the operation over.

Second time I found the not knowing hell, if it was nothing I could forget about it and when it turned out to be back I could put myself in fighting mode and felt more in control, I had a team of specialist nurses helping me and setting up everything I needed before surgery. They rang me with every scrap of news.

You have to remember, your's probably isn't cancer and try to focus on that. Ban yourself from googling and wait for the tests.

Are you able to go NHS after your first hospital visit? you don't want to have to pay for scans etc they'll be a fortune.

You should be seen quickly on NHS. I would query this. It should be within 2 weeks.

Hi i know this is an old thread but wondered what the outcome was. I have recently been losing weight wothout trying among some other issues. Was sent for fit test results came back with the normal being between 0-10 mine is 781! That sounds extremely extreme!?

What did yours turn out to be hubbys has come back at 400