My heart goes out to you. I have also had a positive FIT test yesterday so I'm awaiting the appointment for a scope. I only have left sided abdominal pain for past 8 weeks. Family history of bowel cancer, so feeling petrified. I'm hoping you get your appointment soon and your mind put at ease x

Sorry to hear that wanderer, I hope it comes through soon for you too!

im just so perplexed that I can otherwise feel fine and be facing a cancer diagnosis. It's so scary. Now every time I go to the toilet anxiety just comes over me... that doesn't help my tummy either tbh! It's a long wait now isn't it? I'm finding some days I feel fine and usually those are days where I see little or no blood in my stools. The days like today where I saw quite a bit is really difficult.

please let me know how you get on x 

Hi Laisc,

It's understandable that your symptoms must be very concerning, but you're doing the right thing getting it checked out.
I just wanted to offer some reassurance that cancer is a possibility, but it's probably the least likely one. There are other conditions that cause blood in your stool other than cancer, such as inflammatory bowel disease (crohns disease and ulcerative colitis)

Best Wishes,

Rich

Hi Rich,

thank you for your kind words

I'm trying to stay positive and hope it's nothing sinister. There is a family member with IBD on my mums side of the family but my Nan also had bowel cancer but in her 80's!

my family member had uncontrollable bowel openings and pain but I just don't have anything. I can't stop thinking about it over and over. 
 

has anyone else been referred to a consultant surgeon first? I think I've been sent to a private company so is that just how it works in the private sector?

There will be differences from Trust to Trust in how each service is ran, and Consultant Surgeons in most hospitals will also perform colonoscopies, so this doesn't necessarily mean you will need surgery at some point.

Many hospitals will send patients to private clinics, it's a way to help them stick to their targets if they have trouble fitting in all their work.

As we get older our risk of cancer increases anyway, so your Nan being in her 80s when she was diagnosed is less likely to be related to a genetic predisposition to bowel cancer.

Hope this helps,

Rich

Hi I am in a similar situation my fit test has come back at 183 although I have been having tummy pains and changing my stalls for quite awhile I have a colonoscopy booked for this Friday so I'm praying everything will be okay I also have two young children my grandad died of bowel cancer but again he was old but my daughter also had cancer when she was seven months old so it's far too close to home

I've got one side of my brain telling me to keep

positive, look at the statistics etc. But the other side is just in full panic mode as due to the left sided abdo pain (and mild left back pain), I just know something isn't right, which is giving me very dark thoughts. Thankfully when they scope they can tell me what they see, rather than another wait for results. X

@Wanderer1970 yes I'm the same. I've woken up feeling much more positive even though I have had blood in my stools again. It's very strange how much of a rollercoaster I'm on right now. Just have to keep telling myself that I could be making something out of nothing and keep hoping that I will be ok

Positivity is the key!  I'm going to chase up my appointment today as the last time they were referring me for a scan.. I waited 4 months for an appointment and they'd not done it. I'll feel better once I've spoken to them this morning. We are all one day closer to our appointments and peace of mind.  Have a good day everyone xxx