Suspected Bowel Cancer / IBD
Discussion
Been having a few digestive issues for a couple of months, so went to the docs on Wednesday, who referred me for bloods which I'm booked in for later today, and some stool samples, dropped the samples off yesterday, had a call from the doctors this morning, saying they needed to see me, and I needed some urgent bloods done.
Had a look on my NHS app, and the Quantitv Faecal Immunochem tst which apparently should be less that 10 ug/g, was >200 ug/g.
Been to the doctor who has advised that the outcome is likely 1 of 4 things.
Bowel Cancer
IBD
Polyps
False Positive.
I've been advised not to go on holiday next week as the results of the bloods today may warrant me needing further urgent tests.
Just wondered if anyone has been through the same, and has any advice.
Had a look on my NHS app, and the Quantitv Faecal Immunochem tst which apparently should be less that 10 ug/g, was >200 ug/g.
Been to the doctor who has advised that the outcome is likely 1 of 4 things.
Bowel Cancer
IBD
Polyps
False Positive.
I've been advised not to go on holiday next week as the results of the bloods today may warrant me needing further urgent tests.
Just wondered if anyone has been through the same, and has any advice.
I've had Ulcerative Colitis for the best part of 30yrs, now well managed by drugs, have had about six colonoscopies.
I think you are possibly going to have to have one of those. Nothing to worry about and you can have it under (light) sedation, which I would recommend.
The 'prep' the night before to ensure an empty bowel is worse than the procedure itself.
If you have got any polyps they will be able to remove them there and then - you can watch them doing it on TV monitor if you like. All completely painless and rather surreal to watch.
Let's just hope it is that. Good luck.
ETA: cancer is obviously the major concern. Have you had any otherwise unexplained weight loss?
I think you are possibly going to have to have one of those. Nothing to worry about and you can have it under (light) sedation, which I would recommend.
The 'prep' the night before to ensure an empty bowel is worse than the procedure itself.
If you have got any polyps they will be able to remove them there and then - you can watch them doing it on TV monitor if you like. All completely painless and rather surreal to watch.
Let's just hope it is that. Good luck.
ETA: cancer is obviously the major concern. Have you had any otherwise unexplained weight loss?
Sorry to hear this - it's understandable that you will be very worried. The best advice is the hardest to take which is don't worry.
You are now in the hands of the doctors which is great and this means you are on a path that can end in many ways, most of which are not as bad as you may be focusing on now.
Even if confirmed as bowel cancer, there are lots of us who have come out the other end in better shape then we were before. You are some way from even getting a confirmation that this is what it is.
It's a shame you're going to have to cancel your holiday as the this kind of investigation often comes to nothing but it's great that they are treating it so seriously.
You are now in the hands of the doctors which is great and this means you are on a path that can end in many ways, most of which are not as bad as you may be focusing on now.
Even if confirmed as bowel cancer, there are lots of us who have come out the other end in better shape then we were before. You are some way from even getting a confirmation that this is what it is.
It's a shame you're going to have to cancel your holiday as the this kind of investigation often comes to nothing but it's great that they are treating it so seriously.
Smurfsarepeopletoo said:
Been having a few digestive issues for a couple of months, so went to the docs on Wednesday, who referred me for bloods which I'm booked in for later today, and some stool samples, dropped the samples off yesterday, had a call from the doctors this morning, saying they needed to see me, and I needed some urgent bloods done.
Had a look on my NHS app, and the Quantitv Faecal Immunochem tst which apparently should be less that 10 ug/g, was >200 ug/g.
Been to the doctor who has advised that the outcome is likely 1 of 4 things.
Bowel Cancer
IBD
Polyps
False Positive.
I've been advised not to go on holiday next week as the results of the bloods today may warrant me needing further urgent tests.
Just wondered if anyone has been through the same, and has any advice.
I went down a similar path last year . Had a look on my NHS app, and the Quantitv Faecal Immunochem tst which apparently should be less that 10 ug/g, was >200 ug/g.
Been to the doctor who has advised that the outcome is likely 1 of 4 things.
Bowel Cancer
IBD
Polyps
False Positive.
I've been advised not to go on holiday next week as the results of the bloods today may warrant me needing further urgent tests.
Just wondered if anyone has been through the same, and has any advice.
Found myself with the most crippling stomach pains which doubled me up and meant I couldn't eat . Consequently I lost a LOT of weight in a very short space of time.
Polyps on my colon was the cause so I had the procedure & have been on daily medication ever since.
Not sure what your current symptoms are ? But I went down the same rabbit hole of googling all scenarios.
Hoping you're all good and it's a quick fix .
Smurfsarepeopletoo said:
Been having a few digestive issues for a couple of months, so went to the docs on Wednesday, who referred me for bloods which I'm booked in for later today, and some stool samples, dropped the samples off yesterday, had a call from the doctors this morning, saying they needed to see me, and I needed some urgent bloods done.
Had a look on my NHS app, and the Quantitv Faecal Immunochem tst which apparently should be less that 10 ug/g, was >200 ug/g.
Been to the doctor who has advised that the outcome is likely 1 of 4 things.
Bowel Cancer
IBD
Polyps
False Positive.
I've been advised not to go on holiday next week as the results of the bloods today may warrant me needing further urgent tests.
Just wondered if anyone has been through the same, and has any advice.
I've had some fluctuating bowel issues since the pandemic, with working at home full time back then I'd gone down the path of gluten intolerance and changed my diet accordingly.Had a look on my NHS app, and the Quantitv Faecal Immunochem tst which apparently should be less that 10 ug/g, was >200 ug/g.
Been to the doctor who has advised that the outcome is likely 1 of 4 things.
Bowel Cancer
IBD
Polyps
False Positive.
I've been advised not to go on holiday next week as the results of the bloods today may warrant me needing further urgent tests.
Just wondered if anyone has been through the same, and has any advice.
However, May last year my symptoms changed and that sparked me to go to the docs, like you bloods, stool sample all came back OK, but my symptoms continued until one morning sat on the loo I passed a lot of blood.... Needless to say panic/fear set in and straight onto 101 then up to A&E. That then triggered the cancer pathway (2 weeks for a colonoscopy).....
As you can probably imagine the next few weeks were pretty tense and the bowel prep was way worse than the b*m camera, you can opt for sedation but you will not be able to drive for 12-24 hours, or just gas and air. I opted for gas and air but it was pretty uncomfortable and no doubt I'll have to have another so would probably opt for sedation next time.
If they find any signs of cancer they'll tell you there and then, luckily for me I got the all clear for cancer, they still took around a dozen biopsies to be sure but ultimately months later I was diagnosed with IBD.
A year on and I'm still going through things, various treatments, drugs, tests to try and see if they can get my condition under control but it's a slow process, things are better but not back to normal.
Fingers crossed the above helps, any questions let me know.
I have Stage 3/4 Grade 3 CRC, which was first diagnosed in March 2025. My tumour perforated about a year ago and I was very ill in hospital for about 2 weeks before things stabilised. Next week I start my 19th chemo cycle, and had 25 sessions of radio last autumn. I've not had surgery (yet) but I know my cancer is not curable only "manageable". I have been an ostomate for a year and it makes a huge difference to quality of life and range of foods I can safely eat
I'm happy to help as you may wish
I have 4 key lessons. 1) don't rely on Dr Google 2) Medics will often only tell you info that you ask for, rather than volunteer a fuller picture 3) Medics will naturally want to treat your condition as they find it rather than treating you the person with a condition 4) The cancer pathways work (probably not the same everywhere) and mean you don't have to deal with overloaded GP surgeries
Macmillan is your friend and their booklets are of huge value. Parking during oncology clinics is free! Beware of "calorie deficit", I was losing a 1lb a day at one stage
The last time I spoke with "my" GP was this February when he called to say he'd just read my year-long clinical file and apologised for not having read it before
Ask lots of questions. Take each day as a bonus. The muscle between your ears really matters!
I'm happy to help as you may wish
I have 4 key lessons. 1) don't rely on Dr Google 2) Medics will often only tell you info that you ask for, rather than volunteer a fuller picture 3) Medics will naturally want to treat your condition as they find it rather than treating you the person with a condition 4) The cancer pathways work (probably not the same everywhere) and mean you don't have to deal with overloaded GP surgeries
Macmillan is your friend and their booklets are of huge value. Parking during oncology clinics is free! Beware of "calorie deficit", I was losing a 1lb a day at one stage
The last time I spoke with "my" GP was this February when he called to say he'd just read my year-long clinical file and apologised for not having read it before
Ask lots of questions. Take each day as a bonus. The muscle between your ears really matters!
As said it’s hard not to worry when it’s an unknown.
After a regular bowel cancer screening I got a phone call to tell me I was being fast-tracked for a colonoscopy in 10 days time. Obviously all sorts of thoughts went through my head but it turned out I had a couple of polyps that needed removing and they weren’t anything serious. Kinda interesting watching your insides on a giant screen while you’re slightly spaced out!
Hopefully it’s nothing serious, all the best.
After a regular bowel cancer screening I got a phone call to tell me I was being fast-tracked for a colonoscopy in 10 days time. Obviously all sorts of thoughts went through my head but it turned out I had a couple of polyps that needed removing and they weren’t anything serious. Kinda interesting watching your insides on a giant screen while you’re slightly spaced out!
Hopefully it’s nothing serious, all the best.
I would try to look at it in another way. A positive FIT test doesn't necessarily mean bowel cancer - maybe a 1 in 10 risk.
There are pre-cancerous polyps that often cause bleeding and these can be removed during a colonoscopy.
If you have IBD then you'll have other symptoms, as well as bleeding.
Either way look at this as positive because lack of investigation and leaving it too late could be a whole lot worse.
Not that any of this will be pleasant to be fair.
There are pre-cancerous polyps that often cause bleeding and these can be removed during a colonoscopy.
If you have IBD then you'll have other symptoms, as well as bleeding.
Either way look at this as positive because lack of investigation and leaving it too late could be a whole lot worse.
Not that any of this will be pleasant to be fair.
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