Cholesterol test

Hi I get a yearly cholesterol / thyroid test as my mother had high levels and took statins and thyroxine. I’ve been ‘invited’ to go back and discuss my levels with my practice nurse after this year’s test which is not unusual. Since last year I have changed my diet and lost 16lbs but the letter also states she wants to do a q-fit score. On googling q-fit i believe this is one of the upgraded bowel cancer tests but I can’t find anything to do with ‘scoring’. I did a test last year as part of the Scottish Screening Programme so am not due another till a year in April when I’ll be 60. Is there a connection with cholesterol levels and a higher incidence or a predisposition with bowel cancer?

[sandybrown]

Hi,

In cholesterol and lipids numbers there are checks QRISK and JBS3 analysis.

The analysis gives a score to establish the health of your heart.

Ask you GP practice for a printed copy of your blood test.

You can take a photo and do a new post with blood test results.

Please do not worry.

You can ask your GP practice for q-fit score before your appointment or go for an appointment soon.

I had a look in Google on the Scottish Screening program, it talks about specific FIT and QFIT.

Please let us have an up date after your appointment. Thanks.

[Hidden in reply to sandybrown]

Thanks for reply. I have been ‘googling’ myself and have come across some research done which says that very sudden lowering of cholesterol numbers has been seen in people who then went to develop bowel cancer. The q-fit test detects this much earlier than the old test. I have changed my diet in past year and lost 16lbs which brings me into having a BMI if 24. Wondering if I’ve managed to bring my cholesterol down enough for them to think it’s a precursor to something else. Can’t win here! Appointment is in 2 weeks so hopefully all will be revealed then! I will ask for print out and repost here what happens at that appointment.

ascopost.com/News/40515

[sandybrown in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for the link. I will have to watch this and read more with interest. Thanks. Please give me an up date, always learning.

[Hidden in reply to sandybrown]

Just back from practice nurse to discuss my cholesterol levels. They are down bit still high ( overall number was down to 6.2 from 7.1) The Q-fit score mentioned in the letter was meant to be a QSCORE which is a scoring system that the put your stats in to estimate your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in next 10 years. The nurse apologised for the typographical error and the medical secretaries had been spoken to as I wasn't the only person who had a Q-fit instead of QSCORE mentioned in their letter which is the name for the new bowel cancer test! They’d had 11 worried calls from patients. Anyway as i have no underlying health conditions, BP is textbook, lifestyle, diet and weight Is good so I've staved off statins for another year!

[sandybrown in reply to Hidden]

What is your QRISK score?

[Hidden in reply to sandybrown]

10 years QRISK score 6.3%

Score of healthy person with same age, sex, ethnicity 4.3% with cholesterol ratio of 4

Relative risk (risk divided by healthy person risk) 1.5

Heart age 63. I’m 4 weeks away from being 59!

[sandybrown in reply to Hidden]

OK, Your QRISK is 6.3. Therefore 6 or 7 .

You change of getting any heart problem is 6 o 7 in 100 people!!!

I do not believe in any of this algorithm calculation!!

Enjoy one life, watch for hidden and free sugar in your food and drinks!

Go for regular exercise, this is life style change.

Google remnant cholesterol and work out your rick, this is another way of looking for risk!

[Hidden in reply to sandybrown]

This is what our GP’s use. I’m at a disadvantage right away coming from the west of Scotland even though I don’t have typical west of Scotland behaviours ie drinking more than then recommended 14 units per week, smoking, chip shop, processed, or takeaway foods. I saying that I’m currently sitting with my third pink gin and tonic and my friend bought me the most yummy chocolates I’ve had in over a year and enjoying every mouthful before I go and try out Portuguese food and drink next week!

[sandybrown in reply to Hidden]

Is it possible to give all blood lipid numbers?

[Hidden in reply to sandybrown]

Cholesterol 6.7

Triglycerides 1.4

HDL 1.5

LDL 4.6

VLDL 0.6

Chol/ HDL ratio 4.5

Does this make sense.? Wasn’t sure what lipid numbers were so this is info from print out. Do you research cholesterol levels?

[sandybrown in reply to Hidden]

What a medical technical mistake to make!!!

QRICK score and Q-it score. As a retire3d engineer I understand the difference very well.

You can control your life style wherever you live. You much have money to drink.

Take care, enjoy one life.

[sandybrown in reply to Hidden]

You need to make sure you have a written letter to clarify the mistake.

Below are test rest numbers with units of measurement. I find it difficult to accept the mistake!!!!!!

"The cutoff value for a recommended colonoscopy following the FIT test is 100ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter), which means those with a test result of 100ng/mL or higher have enough blood in their stool to make doctors suspicious of colorectal cancer.

Total cholesterol levels less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) are considered desirable for adults. A reading between 200 and 239 mg/dL is considered borderline high and a reading of 240 mg/dL and above is considered high. LDL cholesterol levels should be less than 100 mg/dL.

This measurement (UK) has been shown to help calculate your risk of developing cardiovascular disease more effectively than before. As a guide, your non-HDL cholesterol should be lower than 4mmol/L and your total cholesterol should be 5mmol/L or less.

"