Terrified of a positive FIT test

[Dizzybubbles]

Started off a few months ago was abit constipated and seeing blood on the outside of poo . Gp done a FIT test which came back as 54 . All bloods normal . I've been getting alot of trapped wind bloating and alternative bowel motions amd back pain.I had a colonoscopy in July 2020 which showed I had a few diverticulitis and internal hemorrhoids.

As you can imagine I am terrified this being bowel cancer .

I do have another colonoscopy booked in for next Sunday.

How likely is this to be cancer when I only had a colonoscopy in 2020 please

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi Dizzybubbles,

Thank you for posting on colon cancer connected. I hate to hear you're having these symptoms but I'm also proud of you for taking action. I think you are all over this and that's great. You are doing exactly what you need to be doing.😁👏🙌

The fact that you are experiencing blood in your stool would indicate that a FIT test would come back as being positive. This shouldn't be a shocker to you. The fit test is supposed to detect blood in the stool and that's what it did. It's great to see that the rest of your blood work is normal.

The positive result could be caused by a stomach ulcer, hemorrhoids, other inflammation. A positive FIT can also be due to a polyp, a pre-cancerous polyp, or colorectal cancer. A positive FIT means you need a colonoscopy to determine the reason for the positive result, but sometimes there are false positives, meaning that the FIT was positive, but there is no cancer. So having a positive FIT test does not necessarily mean it is cancer. It can be caused by a lot of different things.

Your colonoscopy that you had in July 2020 showed a few diverticulitis and internal hemorrhoids. I would think that this is probably what is causing the issues. The fact that you're having another colonoscopy scheduled for next week will go a long way in determining what's going on. It's absolutely the best thing you can be doing.

Q: In 2020 when you had your colonoscopy and you knew your results, what was the action plan or surveillance that your doctors wanted you to follow?

You asked how likely your symptoms would show that you have cancer. I would have to ask if there is a hereditary history of cancer in your family? Your 2020 colonoscopy showed a couple of things and your colonoscopy you're getting ready to have we'll be able to check those things out. Your doctor has a big “heads up” as to what may be going on and causing this.

I am a stage 4 colon cancer survivor. I have lynch syndrome which is a hereditary cancer aspect so I need a lot of surveillance. Lynch syndrome pretty much means that cancer can hide from my immune system. So as a part of my surveillance I get an annual colonoscopy, annual CT scan, annual blood work, and an endoscopy every three years. So for a person like me is it possible for something cancerous to show up between colonoscopies that are one year apart? For me, that is possible. That's why I get checked so often. So when you ask can it be showing something cancerous between the colonoscopy you had in 2020 versus the one you're going to have next week is a personal question for you and your history and perhaps your family's history.

The absolute key to stay in front of these health issues is to get them checked out. Getting them checked out early is critical. You are doing just that. I'm proud of you for jumping on this and getting things done. You have an indicator as to what to look for that your colonoscopy showed in 2020. So your doctor knows what to expect as far as that is concerned and you will be seeing if there's anything new going on. I would not worry too much as you are catching things early which is key and it's more than likely something from what you saw in 2020.

We do wish you all the best in getting good answers to your symptoms. I am glad to see that you jumped on the issue right away. And please do keep us informed as to what you find out. We are interested in seeing you getting on the path to being well.👍🤟 This type of information can be helpful to others on this site.

~Tom, GCCA Survivor - Colon Cancer Connected Site Administrator.

Just a reminder - this group is here to offer support, share experiences, and offer our thoughts - but this is not medical advice, and you should always consult your medical professional(s). Additionally, for all emergencies, seek urgent medical care, never delay.

[Dizzybubbles in reply to GCCA-Survivor]

Thank you for replying In July 2020 there wasn't any follow up really. They just gave me an information sheet on diverticulitis and discharged me . I've not had any problems until now . There is no history of bowel cancer in my family . My sister did have peritoneal cancer and passed away 4 yrs ago. So don't no if that would be related to the bowels

[Carsok]

I know exactly how you feel and am so sorry because it is not pleasant. I had a colonoscopy in 2020 and had 7 polyps removed and in 2022 had another colonoscopy and had another 7 polyps removed two of which were very large and one was precancerous. My entire colon is full of diverticula and I have had diverticulitis about 4 times. I have IBS and very bloated and gassy along with alternating constipation and diarrhea. It is so hard and I feel for you. I am doing a breath test tomorrow to check for methane and other gases that could cause problems. As long as you keep up with your colonoscopies you should be okay. I have a history of colon and other digestive cancers in my family so I religiously get mine. Also just found out I have a tumor on my adrenal gland. Have to see someone about that. My cousin, who is 80, is in the hospital with stage IV colon cancer and she cried "why me"? I was honest and told her if you would have gotten colonoscopies you wouldn't be in this situation. I would tell her over and over to get one but she wouldn't listen. Both our mothers died from cancer. I know it's so hard not to worry but I basically take it day by day. Just please get colonoscopies when you are told to. It could always be worse...I have a brain tumor (inoperable), a aneurysm in my descending aorta and a botched thoracotomy and now the adrenal tumor. Not making light of your problem but do follow ups and be your own advocate. If you think there is something wrong, and it is your body, then talk to the doctor.

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator in reply to Carsok]

Hi Carsok,

I like your message about keeping up with the colonoscopies and you should be OK. That's an awesome message and unfortunately, it's not getting out as much as it should three. I also hate to hear that your cousin is in the fight at the age of 80. I know looking at your family history and comparing it to my family history that there were a lot of opportunities missed such as getting screening early. I failed to get screened early and it took a clinical trial and an immunotherapy miracle to save me.

I know I mentioned this to you in another post, but did you get checked to see if you have hereditary cancer running in your family? It sounds like you may the indications. Did you get genetic testing? I got genetic testing early after diagnosis and found out that I had lynch syndrome and that set off a firestorm for everyone on my father's side of the family to get tested. It had been 16 years prior to me being diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that two of my cousins had passed away from it. And even then, it never dawned on me that we might have a hereditary cancer and I should be getting tested. In fact, the whole family should have been getting tested.

Prevention is absolutely key. Having genetic testing and knowing your biomarkers can also put you on a path to the best possible therapy if you find yourself in a fight. I'm also learning more and more about genomics and how the sequencing of your genome can potentially reveal you may be susceptible to certain diseases even certain cancers. You would know all this even before any symptoms would be showing. I can see genomic testing becoming part of standard of care early in life for everyone. And all this could be known by acquiring a simple blood draw.

Please keep up your message. I don't think you can say it loud enough or often enough that screening saves lives. Catching things early saves lives. Preventing a cancer before you have to fight a cancer is also key.

Thank you, Tom

[Carsok in reply to GCCA-Survivor]

I can't even tell you how many times I had told my cousin to get a colonoscopy and she never listened to me. She has always lived alone and I tried to get her to move closer to me but she wouldn't do it. Thankfully she was here over Christmas and that's when they operated. Today she was saying "why me" and I know it sounds cold but I told her if you had gotten colonoscopies you wouldn't be here today. We are putting her on hospice and I was going to do it at my home but I don't think I am capable of taking care of her. She has a colostomy bag and a urinary catheter. I will have to tell her she will be going to a hospice center and it will not be pleasant to tell her that. My husband and I are leaving for N.J. Tuesday morning to close her apartment up and drive her car back and then I have to find a doctor for my adrenal gland tumor and find out what to do about that. I tell you getting old is not for the faint of heart. I am 75 and somehow I'm still here. I have made arrangements for my body to go to research. Between the brain tumor, aneurysm, my failed surgery for Bochdalek hernia and now the adrenal tumor they will have lots to research and I won't even go into the day-to-day little things...lol. I feel that something good should come from all this mess in my body and if they find one thing that will help somebody it will be worth it. Happy New Year and hope your life is long lived and a healthy one.

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator in reply to Carsok]

Your cousin is a Jersey girl👏. I lived in New Jersey for about 13 years in Chatham Township and Westfield. Now you may be 75 but you're still a rock star. You are definitely blessed. I'm proud of you for getting that message out to your cousin. You know the saying that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. There are a lot of people out there that need to “drink”.

Your cousin is asking the question “why me”. When I was first diagnosed and realize what was going on, I would think back at all the signs that I missed. My whole family missed a lot of signs. As they say, hindsight is 2020. I am now a big advocate of early screening. I've should have been getting a colonoscopy when I was aged 36 and I realized that now.

You are spot on with what you are telling your cousin. There's no way to sugarcoat it. I hate to see your family having to deal with it. You are dealing with a lot yourself and now your cousins issues are now a part of it. I would think you are dealing with a hereditary type of situation and I hope that has led others in your family to get on some kind of surveillance testing so they will not miss the signs. I know you know that prevention and getting screened is key.

I am sending prayers to you and your cousin. You are dealing with a lot here and it's not going to get any easier. Please note that you are definitely helping others.🧡 I know you will be vocal about early screening and getting colonoscopies when you should be getting colonoscopies. You see the importance of that and others will also. I know while I was still in the hospital after my partial colectomy surgery to remove the tumor, my neighbor said “thanks a lot” my wife is making me get a colonoscopy. I just told him to look at me. I hope you can avoid what I'm going through right now.

I do wish you the very best. Please keep telling your story. You will definitely be helping others.👏🧡🤟🙌

[Carsok in reply to GCCA-Survivor]

What a small world. I lived in Chatham when I first got married back in '73, then moved to Summit and before that grew up in Bayonne. My cousin and I are the only two left out of the family. Everyone else has passed on. Thank heavens for my husband who has been a rock through all this. I bugged my husband for years and finally he got one and had polyps. Now I hear him tell people to get one. "Get a colonoscopy" is my mantra to everyone. Best to you and keep the faith.